Tag: Duke

Notre Dame receiver target Micah Gilbert announces commitment date

Here’s hoping the crystal ball isn’t lying.

[autotag]Cam Williams[/autotag] is one of the biggest receiver recruits Notre Dame has landed in recent years. But so far, he’s the Irish’s only pure receiver commit in the the 2024 recruiting class. That might change next week as receiver target Micah Gilbert has announced May 2 as the day he will make his college decision. The announcement will take place live on the 247Sports YouTube channel.

All signs point to Gilbert a Charlotte, North Carolina native, picking Notre Dame after he was recruited by [autotag]Gerad Parker[/autotag] and [autotag]Chansi Stuckey[/autotag]. Duke and North Carolina figure to be the biggest threat to the Irish, though that also could be because he’s from Charlotte. The other schools in the mix for the four-star recruit are South Carolina, Michigan, Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech.

Gilbert would be a perfect complimentary piece to Williams, and here’s hoping he feels the same way. We all will find out the answer to that question really soon.

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Familiar face to Wisconsin basketball announces transfer to Duke

Familiar face to Wisconsin basketball announces transfer to Duke

The NCAA men’s basketball transfer portal has been full of twists and turns this offseason. The latest: former Purdue forward Mason Gillis is heading to Duke. After five years with the Boilermakers, the longtime Purdue starter is heading to Durham.

Gillis was a redshirt his freshman season before being an active part of the team’s rotation in West Lafayette for four campaigns, most recently averaging 6.3 points and 4.2 rebounds over 39 contests during the 2023-2024 season.

Related: An updated list of Wisconsin basketball’s transfer portal targets

He joins a Duke program that lost in the NCAA Tournament regional final in 2023-24. Head coach Jon Scheyer will be entering his third season in 2024-25, still looking to make his first Final Four run.

Purdue, on the other hand, is reloading its roster after a national championship loss to UConn. Gillis isn’t leaving a bad team for a better one, but rather capitalizing on his final year of free agency.

In the modern age of college basketball, it’s hard to imagine that many players will begin and end their collegiate careers with the same program and Gillis is a great example of just that.

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Local Final Four star DJ Burns Jr. garnering attention from NFL execs

Rock Hill, S.C. native and NC State star DJ Burns Jr. is apparently catching the attention of some NFL scouts and GMs.

Could DJ Burns Jr. go from the block to the blindside?

With yet another dominant March Madness performance, the Rock Hill, S.C. native and North Carolina State University star is continuing to take the nation by storm. His 29-point Easter outing led the Wolfpack past the ACC rival Duke Blue Devils in the NCAA tournament’s Elite Eight round, helping give the program their first Final Four appearance since 1983.

But Burns isn’t only grabbing the attention of the basketball world. According to Fox Sports senior national writer Peter Schrager, the 6-foot-9, 275-pound forward has NFL scouts and general managers thinking a little bit outside the box . . .

This wouldn’t be the first time a local college athlete made the Final Four while football came calling. Remember that kid named Julius Peppers?

While football was obviously on the forefront for the standout defensive end, Peppers was a reserve for the University of North Carolina’s Final Four squad in 1999. The Wilson, N.C. boy only went on to become a unanimous All-American, a second overall pick, a nine-time Pro Bowler and a Pro Football Hall of Famer.

So even though Burns would have a different road to the NFL, it seems to be an open one.

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Potential Thunder draft prospect Jared McCain scores 32 points in Duke’s loss to NC State

Potential Thunder draft prospect Jared McCain scores 32 points in Duke’s loss to NC State.

The Oklahoma City Thunder could have two 2024 first-round picks in the lottery range. They own the Houston Rockets’ top-four protected pick and the Utah Jazz’s top-10 protected pick. The former looks more likely to convey to OKC than the latter.

With the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament concluded, the top prospects were in the spotlight as they drew national attention for their postseason performances.

Considering the Thunder will likely have at least one lottery pick, plenty of possible additions via the draft give fans a chance to see how they match up in high-stress situations.

One possibility is Duke guard Jared McCain. He finished with 32 points on 8-of-20 shooting, 5-of-11 from 3, 11-of-11 from the free-throw line and six rebounds in 40 minutes in No. 4 Duke’s 76-64 loss to No. 11 NC State in the Elite Eight on Sunday.

McCain will likely be a one-and-done case; the freshman guard has played a vital role in Duke’s success. In 34 games, he averaged 14 points on 46.5% shooting, five rebounds and 1.9 assists. He shot 41.5% from 3 on 5.7 attempts.

The 20-year-old is a crafty scorer who can stretch the floor. Size is an issue  at 6 feet, 3 inches and 197 pounds, but he can grow into a solid frame over time.

On the Thunder, McCain can be a crafty scorer off the bench. He can enrich their deep guard depth and can be another catch-and-shoot option for OKC.

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Potential Thunder draft prospect Kyle Filipowski struggles in Duke’s loss to NC State

Potential Thunder draft prospect Kyle Filipowski struggles in Duke’s loss to NC State.

The Oklahoma City Thunder could have two 2024 first-round picks in the lottery range. They own the Houston Rockets’ top-four protected pick and the Utah Jazz’s top-10 protected pick. The former looks more likely to convey to OKC than the latter.

With the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament concluded, the top prospects were in the spotlight as they drew national attention for their postseason performances.

Considering the Thunder will likely have at least one lottery pick, plenty of possible additions via the draft give fans a chance to see how they match up in high-stress situations.

One possibility is Duke center Kyle Filipowski. He finished with 11 points on 3-of-12 shooting, 5-of-5 from the free-throw line and nine rebounds in 30 minutes in No. 4 Duke’s 76-64 loss to No. 11 NC State in the Elite Eight on Sunday.

 

Filipowski has been the offensive hub for Duke this season. The 7-foot center can stretch the floor and pass when needed. He has an NBA-ready frame at 248 pounds, which means he should immediately contribute and not be physically overwhelmed.

In his second year at Duke, he’s averaged 17.1 points on 51% shooting, 8.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 blocks. He’s shot 35% from 3 on 3.2 attempts. The 20-year-old has led Duke to a 24-8 record and the No. 4 seed in the South Region.

The Thunder could hope to add Filipowski to add some serious size at their center spot. He could start alongside Holmgren for jumbo lineups. He’s also versatile enough to fit with OKC.

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Saints scout sleeper first-round prospect at Duke pro day

All 32 NFL teams were in attendance at Duke’s pro day, including the Saints — who could view center Graham Barton as an answer to their problems at tackle or guard:

Here’s a name to keep in mind for the New Orleans Saints in the 2024 NFL draft: Graham Barton. All 32 NFL teams were represented at Duke’s pro day to clock the Duke offensive lineman as he went through his paces, per ESPN’s Jordan Reid, and he impressed with top marks in every category.

Barton played both left tackle and center in college, and pro scouts are confident he could line up at all five spots along the offensive line in the NFL. He certainly has the athleticism for it. After weighing in at 6-foot-5 and 311 pounds, Barton timed the 40-yard dash in just 4.84 seconds, per Duke’s official announcement (though Reid’s sources clocked him at 4.94 to 4.97). The school also said that he recorded a 4.43 in the short shuttle (Reid had him at 4.54 and 4.56 on his two attempts) and a 7.34 in the three-cone drill (Reid said 7.31 and 7.32), showing off high-end agility no matter how you slice it.

And while he may not be a common pick for the Saints in many mock drafts right now, Barton may not be much of a reach at No. 14. Some evaluators grade him as a top-15 prospect in the draft class. His versatility to play all five spots could help the Saints field their five best linemen whether he’s replacing Trevor Penning at left tackle, James Hurst at left guard, or Ryan Ramczyk at right tackle. He’s most often projected to stay at center in the NFL, but the Saints are known for moving guys around after turning pro (with mixed results).

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Potential Thunder draft prospect Jared McCain helps Duke in win over Houston

Potential Thunder draft prospect Jared McCain helps Duke in win over Houston.

The Oklahoma City Thunder could have two 2024 first-round picks in the lottery range. They own the Houston Rockets’ top-four protected pick and the Utah Jazz’s top-10 protected pick. The former looks more likely to come to OKC than the latter.

With the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament underway, the top prospects are in the spotlight as they draw national attention for their postseason performances.

Considering the Thunder will likely have at least one lottery pick, plenty of possible additions via the draft give fans a chance to see how they match up in high-stress situations.

One possibility is Duke guard Jared McCain. He finished with seven points on 3-of-6 shooting, 1-of-4 from 3, six rebounds and four assists in 40 minutes in No. 4 Duke’s 54-51 win over No. 1 Houston in the Sweet 16 on Friday.

McCain will likely be a one-and-done case as the freshman guard has played a vital role in Duke’s success. In 34 games, he averaged 14 points on 46.5% shooting, five rebounds and 1.9 assists. He’s shot 41.5% from 3 on 5.7 attempts.

The 20-year-old is a crafty scorer who can stretch the floor. Size is an issue  at 6 feet, 3 inches and 197 pounds, but he can grow into a solid frame over time.

On the Thunder, McCain can be a crafty scorer off the bench. He can enrich their deep guard depth and can be another catch-and-shoot option for OKC.

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Potential Thunder draft prospect Kyle Filipowski helps Duke in 54-51 win over Houston

Potential Thunder draft prospect Kyle Filipowski helps Duke in 54-51 win over Houston.

The Oklahoma City Thunder could have two 2024 first-round picks in the lottery range. They own the Houston Rockets’ top-four protected pick and the Utah Jazz’s top-10 protected pick. The former looks more likely to come to OKC than the latter.

With the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament underway, the top prospects are in the spotlight as they draw national attention for their postseason performances.

Considering the Thunder will likely have at least one lottery pick, plenty of possible additions via the draft give fans a chance to see how they match up in high-stress situations.

One possibility is Duke center Kyle Filipowski. He finished with 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting, nine rebounds and two assists in 34 minutes. He shot 3-of-5 from 3. No. 4 Duke escaped with a 54-51 win over No. 1 Houston in the Sweet 16 on Friday.

Filipowski has been the offensive hub for Duke this season. The 7-foot center can stretch the floor and pass when needed. He has an NBA-ready frame at 248 pounds, which means he should immediately contribute and not be physically overwhelmed.

In his second year at Duke, he’s averaged 17.1 points on 51% shooting, 8.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 blocks. He’s shot 35% from 3 on 3.2 attempts. The 20-year-old has led Duke to a 24-8 record and the No. 4 seed in the South Region.

The Thunder could hope to add Filipowski to add some serious size at their center spot. He could start alongside Holmgren for jumbo lineups. He’s also versatile enough to fit with OKC.

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Duke star Jared McCain explained why he paints his nails in his latest TikTok during March Madness

Duke’s Jared McCain doesn’t care if his painted nails offend you.

Duke Blue Devils freshman guard Jared McCain is easily one of the biggest stars of the March Madness tournament so far.

McCain, a former McDonald’s All-American and Mr. California Basketball, was a consensus five-star recruit coming out of high school before eventually committing to play for Duke.

He has had a solid season in college but especially stood out during the early rounds of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The impressive guard had 30 points in a win against James Madison during the Round of 32.

Not only was it a stellar showing but he looked good doing it, too. Some fans have noticed that like Caleb Williams, the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, McCain keeps freshly manicured nails on his fingers.

@jaredmccain24

Y’all have been asking. @Sally Hansen is the GOAT 🐐! There’s no better nail polish in the game 💅💅 #SallyHansenPartner

♬ original sound – Jaredmccain24

RELATED: Caleb Williams has the perfect response to the dumb, offensive talk about his pink phone and nails

When he is not on the court, McCain also keeps an active TikTok profile.

For his latest video, he recently explained why he likes to paint his nails.

“Just do some self-care time. I think everyone should do self-care for themselves. For me, it’s nail painting. I’m sorry if that offends any of you guys.”

The video was a paid partnership with Sally Hansen as part of an NIL.

He continued, adding more context to why he likes the look so much:

“There’s really no crazy reason to it. It helps me not bite my nails. I went to a salon one time and I decided to pick out a color and I thought it looked nice and I know a lot of people disagree. A lot of people don’t like it. I’m just going to be myself and do what I think looks nice. One of the reason why I kept painting my nails is I had a game after I painted my nails and I ended up playing really well. I’m not crazy superstitious but I thought it looked nice and I thought it helped me play better and so far it’s worked so I’m just going to keep doing it.”

We recently projected McCain as a lottery pick in the latest edition of our 2024 NBA Mock Draft.

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NBA Mock Draft sees Bulls take Duke guard with No. 11 pick

In a recent NBA Mock Draft, the Chicago Bulls selected Duke guard Jared McCain with the 11th pick.

As the Chicago Bulls prepare for the offseason, they need to have their eyes on two key things – the NBA Draft and the trade market. Free agency won’t matter as much for the Bulls this year, as rumors have indicated that they plan on trying to trade Zach LaVine. And if that’s the case, one can assume that they may try to take a step away from the current core.

But even if they don’t, adding new young talent to this team is crucial. Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu look like potential stars in the making and Patrick Williams looked solid before his injury, but outside of that, there isn’t much to look forward to on the roster moving forward.

In a recent NBA Mock Draft concocted by Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report, the Bulls picked up Duke guard Jared McCain with the 11th pick.

“Eight three-point makes against James Madison gave Jared McCain another bump in the draft’s shooter rankings,” Wasserman wrote. “He’s now up at 41.5 percent from deep on the year with a balanced shot distribution chart of spot-up, off-screen and pull-up jumpers.

“But stellar pick-and-roll play with his pacing, floater touch, finishing craft and passing IQ also adds an extra element of creation and playmaking for McCain to generate offense with.

“Despite lacking ideal size or plus athletic traits, he has an easy-fit game with his on/off-ball skill set. Positive energy and passion are bonuses with teams likely to covet McCain’s character and intangibles.”

Adding McCain’s ball-handling and shooting would be huge for the Bulls.

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