Theon James' commitment to the Duke University basketball program made it all official.
The team announced the deal Monday morning after the Tulane guard announced his intention to play for the Blue Devils on Friday.
The Sugar Hill, Ga., native is coming off a career-best season in which he averaged 14.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game on 38.1 percent shooting from 3-point range, but what makes John Scheier the most happy? There's more to his recent commits than numbers.
“He is a proven leader with a high IQ and great game sense,” Scheier said in a statement.
“I'll bring Shion.” [James] His appointment to Duke is not just about adding talent, it's about furthering his culture of competitiveness and winning attitude. ”
The 6-foot-6 guard is the first player in American Atlantic Conference (AAC) history to win the Sportsmanship Award twice (2023, 2024) and twice serves as chair of the AAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. .
“Zion will have a tremendous impact on and off the court, and I look forward to getting to work with him and the rest of the team,” Scheier continued.
But his value on the court has also been critical to Duke's success, which also added Syracuse center Malik Brown and Purdue forward Mason Gillis from the transfer portal this offseason.
”[Sion James’] His versatility as a defender is a huge asset, and his ability to improve other players offensively will improve our team. ”
Adding a tough, physical defender with experience through college basketball who can confidently shoot the 3-point ball was a top priority for the coaching staff.
The Blue Devils still have two scholarships available this offseason, but it seems unlikely that any more rotation-critical players will be added to the roster.