Duke Basketball: The 5 Most Impressive Blue Devils in 2013-14 So Far
This first part of the 2013-14 season for the Duke basketball program has been about getting a young team to grow together as many players learn new roles.
As Mike Krzyzewski said following Saturdayโs win over Eastern Michigan, โWhen you start out with a different team early on, you have to give it time to grow. I think weโre growing.โ
Some Blue Devils have shown faster growth than others and are off to great starts in the 2013-14 season.
The following list looks at the five most impressive Blue Devils at this point of the season.
5. Amile Jefferson
1 of 5
While he got off to a slow start in Dukeโs first couple games, Amile Jefferson is starting to emerge as a rebounding force.
Heโs grabbed 31 rebounds in the past three games, and his defensive rebounding percentage is now up to 25.4.
With teams electing to play more zone defense against Duke in an attempt to slow down Jabari Parker and Rodney Hood, itโs created more opportunities for Jefferson to attack the glass and collect missed shots.
It took him a few games to get acclimated, but Jefferson is now showing why the coaching staff was so excited about his potential coming into the 2013-14 season.
4. Quinn Cook
2 of 5
Heโs flown under the radar because of all the attention being given to his teammates, but Quinn Cook has been a fantastic distributor for the Blue Devils this season.
Cook leads the ACC in assists per game at 6.2, and he also has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3-to-1.
Though his shooting has been inconsistent, the junior point guard has excelled in the role of finding the playmakers around him.
His defense is also beginning to improve, which is evidenced by the fact that heโs recorded 15 steals in the past three games.
3. Andre Dawkins
3 of 5
Even if youโre not a Duke a fan, itโs hard not to root for Andre Dawkins and be happy for him with the great year heโs having as a redshirt senior.
Dawkins has overcome tremendous adversity off the court and appears to be flourishing in his role as a veteran and offensive specialist this season.
Heโs averaging 9.1 points in only 13.4 minutes per game and ranks second in the ACC in three-point shooting at 48.1 percent.
Dawkinsโ perimeter shooting skills make him an ideal fit for Dukeโs offense as many defenses focus on stopping dribble penetration, which leads to open looks for the senior sharpshooter.
Through this point in the season, Dawkins has made the most of those opportunities.
2. Rodney Hood
4 of 5
There was talk in the preseason that Rodney Hood might be the most impactful transfer in the country for the 2013-14 season, and his play certainly supports that notion.
Hood has transitioned wonderfully to the Duke program and has been one of the most consistent performers on the team.
Heโs averaging 17.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while shooting over 54 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from beyond the three-point line.
It seems like Hood always does a great job of letting the game come to him and waiting for his time to attack, which is part of why his offense has been so efficient.
1. Jabari Parker
5 of 5
Jabari Parker hasnโt just been the most impressive Blue Devil in the 2013-14 season.
Heโs also been the most impressive freshman in college basketball and arguably the most impressive player in college basketball.
The 6โ8โ, 235-pound forward has shown why he was one of the most highly touted recruits in the country over the past four years and why he has a great chance to be taken with one of the top picks in the 2014 NBA draft.
Whether itโs leading a fast break, hitting deep perimeter shots, attacking the rim or showing off his mid-range game, Parker has been unstoppable for the Blue Devils.
.jpg?w=2560)
.jpg?w=2560 "Nabers' Recent IG Post ๐")