Duke’s offseason haul got a major boost with the addition of John Blackwell, and the Blue Devils are banking on his scoring punch to give their perimeter group a serious edge next season.
Blackwell, a 6-foot-4 guard, was one of the most sought-after players in the transfer portal this offseason after averaging over 19 points per game for Wisconsin last year. He weighed whether to remain in the NBA Draft or head to Duke before ultimately choosing the Blue Devils.
The appeal is obvious. Blackwell can score from all three levels, but his outside shot stands out most. He hit 39 percent from three-point range last season while taking more than seven attempts per game, a strong sign of how dangerous he can be when defenses lose track of him on the perimeter.
His decision to leave the draft process also came after a rough showing at the NBA Draft Combine. His physical tools did not measure up to NBA expectations, and his playmaking limitations were put on display during the event. Now, he’ll get a chance to sharpen those areas at Duke while working to raise his draft stock.
For Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils, the fit looks straightforward. Blackwell joins a roster that already includes returners Cayden Boozer and Dame Sarr, along with five-star recruit Cameron Williams, giving Duke a group that looks loaded on the wing and on the ball.
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello ranked Blackwell as the third-best transfer portal addition in the country this offseason, and his evaluation matched the buzz around Duke’s pickup.
“Blackwell should be one of the most explosive scorers in the country next season. He averaged 19.1 points and 5.1 rebounds for the Badgers this season while improving his consistency on the perimeter to make nearly 39% of his 3-point attempts. After playing off the ball next to Nick Boyd at Wisconsin, Blackwell wants to be more of a playmaker at his next stop,” Borzello said.
“Jon Scheyer desperately needed a big-time scorer on the perimeter, and he landed the best one in the portal with Blackwell. He will have plenty of competition for the role he has said he wants -- more on-ball responsibility -- but completes arguably the deepest perimeter group in the country,” he added.
Blackwell’s arrival gives Duke exactly what it was hunting for: another high-level scorer who can change the shape of the offense. The Blue Devils have fallen in the Final Four and the Elite Eight in the last two postseasons, and they’ll be looking for Blackwell to help push them deeper into the NCAA Tournament next season.
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