Duke Basketball: What Amile Jefferson Will Bring to 2014-15 Blue Devils

With so much excitement surrounding the incoming freshmen in the Duke basketball program, it is easy to overlook the key returnees—like Amile Jefferson—as the 2014-15 season approaches.

However, Jefferson is a critical factor in any ACC or national title hopes that the Blue Devils hold this year.

Sure, it’s no secret that Jahlil Okafor is going to drastically change Jefferson’s role on this year’s team. No longer will the junior be the one consistent big man in Mike Krzyzewski’s rotation or be counted on to anchor the interior defense.

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After all, Okafor could be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft, and he has the potential to be a double-double machine who controls the glass and leads the ACC in scoring because of his ability to carve out space with strength and superior footwork. Okafor will also be a critical piece in Duke’s defense as a shot-blocker.

Okafor has the potential to be a star, but Jefferson will still play a significant role as well.

Jefferson started 26 games for the Blue Devils in 2013-14 and averaged 6.5 points and 6.9 rebounds a night in 22.7 minutes of action. He also shot an impressive 64.4 percent from the field.

His impact was about more than just numbers, though, and he helped solidify two glaring areas of weakness for Duke.

The Blue Devils finished 193rd in the nation in total rebounds per game and No. 116 in Ken Pomeroy’s pace-adjusted defensive efficiency rankings last year. Those numbers would have been significantly worse were it not for Jefferson’s contributions on the glass and as a help defender at the rim.

Ultimately, Jefferson was unable to mask those rebounding and defensive deficiencies enough to help Duke make a deep run in the NCAA tournament, but this team would not have earned a favorable seed or won as many games as it did without him there.

Jefferson’s role expanded throughout the course of the year as Duke’s one reliable big man, and the hope in Durham is that he will take another step forward with an extra year of experience under his belt.

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Jefferson almost has a responsibility to become even better this year because Krzyzewski trusted him and Quinn Cook as the two team captains. Jefferson commented on the distinction, via Bret Strelow of FayObserver.com:

"

It’s the ultimate honor to be named a team captain. To think about guys like (Shane) Battier and (Jon) Scheyer, those captains who led the team - Mason (Plumlee), Ryan (Kelly). Just guys who knew how to set the ship and how to make the team go the way they wanted it to go.

So for me and Quinn, it's a big honor and it's time for us to be leaders. It's time for us to demonstrate our leadership on and off the court. It's something that I'm going to cherish forever.

"

That leadership action is the most important thing Jefferson can do this season, regardless of his play on the actual court.

Duke’s best three players this season could realistically be freshmen, so it will be imperative for the older guys to help them adapt to the college game, especially on the road.

Everyone in the ACC wants to take Duke down, and players like Jefferson will help the freshmen understand that they need to bring the same type of consistent effort, whether it is Wake Forest on the other end of the floor or North Carolina.

Jefferson will be a leader, but he will also be important as part of the big-man rotation.

He is the most experienced big on the roster and the best option down low this side of Okafor. Marshall Plumlee is good for some rebounding and interior defense, but Jefferson is much more versatile and has a higher ceiling.

That versatility is critical because Jefferson proved last year that he can anchor the team as a center, but he is more than capable of playing power forward because of his athleticism and overall quickness.

Sure, Jefferson may be the first one to fill in for Okafor if the freshman gets into foul trouble, but Krzyzewski will likely look to use his top two big men together throughout the season.

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A Jefferson and Okafor combination would be lethal on the glass.

What’s more, if the Blue Devils need to run or a quick spark, Jefferson can be the center in a smaller rotation. Justise Winslow can handle the power forward responsibility in that scenario, which would mean all five guys could theoretically get out in transition and speed up the game for short bursts. 

Running should not be a problem because Jefferson is reportedly far along in the recovery process from his summer hip surgery and should be ready to go by the start of the season. Laura Keeley of The Raleigh News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer provided an update:

Ultimately, Jefferson’s true value comes in the form of his leadership. There are more talented players on this roster, but Duke will be heavily reliant on freshmen who need to understand that the Blue Devils always have a target on their back.

The youngsters will have to learn how to deal with raucous crowds and motivated opponents, and the best way to do that is with veterans like Jefferson leading the way. 

That’s why he is the captain.

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