Kyrie Irving and the Top 15 Freshman Seasons in Duke Basketball History

Many talented freshman have played for the Duke Blue Devils basketball program and each has left their mark in one way or another. 

Freshman seasons in college basketball can play out in a wide variety of ways depending on the player and the program and while one player could be learning from veteran upperclassmen by watching from the bench, another could be thrown right into the fire and expected to produce.

In the era or one-and-done's and college freshman winning player of the year awards, we have seen many great seasons from these rookies across the nation. But what are the greatest freshman seasons in Duke basketball history? 

Here are the 15 best freshman seasons in Duke Basketball History.

15. Jon Scheyer

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INDIANAPOLIS - APRIL 05: Jon Scheyer #20 of the Duke Blue Devils gets set to attempt a shot against the Butler Bulldogs during the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 5, 2010 in Indianapolis, Ind

Scheyer's first season at Duke was the 2006-2007 campaign and had a great first year. Scheyer averaged 12 points and three rebounds per game to start his great career at Duke.

The shooting guards first season helped him grow as a player and set him up to have a big role in Duke's future.

14. Shane Battier

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5 Feb 1998: Forward Shane Battier of the Duke Blue Devils in action during a game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina defeated Duke 97-73. Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport

Battier's first season was a successful one and he put up solid numbers for a freshman. Battier averaged eight points and six rebounds per game and played excellent defense.

His freshman season set him up to help Duke win the National Championship in 2001, the tournament in which he won the Most Outstanding Player award.

13. Luol Deng

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DURHAM, NC - MARCH 3: Luol Deng #2 of the Duke Blue Devils posts up Anthony McHenry #55 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the game on March 3, 2004 at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. The Yellow Jackets won 76-68. (Photo by Stree

The first one and done of the list, Deng played at Duke for the 2003-2004 season and averaged 15 points per game and seven rebound per game.

Deng's numbers were great and he helped lead Duke to a final four appearance.  

12. Carlos Boozer

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CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 27: Carlos Boozer #4 of the Duke Blue Devils celebrates during the ACC/Big Ten Challenge against the Iowa Hawkeyes at United Center in Chicago, Illinois on November 27, 2001. The Blue Devils won 80-62. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty

Boozer averaged 13 points and six rebounds in his first season at Duke and made a huge impact as a rookie.

Boozer grew from his rookie season into a key contributor on a National Championship team in 2001

11. Chris Duhon

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DURHAM, NC - MARCH 3: Chris Duhon #21 of the Duke Blue Devils yells during the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on March 3, 2004 at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. The Yellow Jackets won 76-68. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty

Duhon had a solid freshman season at Duke and while putting up only decent numbers, playing point guard requires a lot of experience that Duhon would use next season during Duke's championship run.

Duhon averaged seven points and five assists per game. 

10. J.J. Reddick

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GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 12: J.J Redick #4 of the Duke Blue Devils salutes the crowd as he cuts down the net after his team's 78-76 win over the Boston College Eagles during the finals of the Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Tournament on March 1

J.J. Reddick put up great scoring numbers in his first season at Duke, 15 points per game to go along with two assists per game, and the experience helped him become the player he was as an upperclassman.

9. Elton Brand

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25 Nov 1997: Forward Elton Brand of the Duke Blue Devils in action against the Missouri Tigers during the Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center in Maui, Hawaii. Duke defeated Missouri 82-59.

While Brand did get hurt his rookie season, he put up great numbers for a young post player averaging 13 points and 7 rebounds per game.

8. Sheldon Williams

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ATLANTA - MARCH 23: Shelden Williams #23 of the Duke Blue Devils dunks over the defense of Tasmin Mitchell #1 of the LSU Tigers during third round game of the 2006 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament Regional at the Georgia Dome on March 23, 2006

Williams was a defensive force in the paint all four years at Duke and put up very good numbers, averaging eight points, six rebounds and two blocks a game.

7. Kyle Singler

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ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 24: Derrick Williams #23 of the Arizona Wildcats fights for a rebound against Kyle Singler #12 of the Duke Blue Devils during the west regional semifinal of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Honda Center on March 24, 20

Singler was a key player on Duke's most recent championship team but before he was dominating as an upperclassmen, he was learning the ropes as a rookie.

Singler averaged 13 points and five rebounds per game his freshman season to go along with playing excellent defense and busting his butt every play.

6. Bobby Hurley

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A PORTRAIT OF SACRAMENTO KINGS GUARD BOBBY HURLEY, SHOWN HERE IN 1992 WITH THE DUKE UNIVERSITY BLUE DEVILS.

Hurley is remembered most for pairing up with Christian Laettner in the early nineties and helping Duke win two national titles.

However, his rookie season he averaged nine points and eight assists per game, dishing out passes as one of the purest point guards college basketball has ever seen.

5. Grant Hill

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30 JAN 1993: DUKE FORWARD GRANT HILL CONCENTRATES AT THE FREE THROW LINE DURING THE BLUE DEVILS GAME AT THE MARYLAND TERRAPINS. Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger/ALLSPORT

Hill averaged 11 points and five rebounds per game in his first season at Duke and won a national title his first year in college basketball.

4. Christian Laettner

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DECEMBER 7: Christian Laettner #32 of the Duke University Blue Devils prepares to shoot a free throw during a NCAA game against Canisius College in December 7, 1991. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Laettner is one of the most famous Duke basketball players ever and helped the school win its first two national titles.

His rookie year he averaged eight points and five rebounds per game but only played about 16 minutes a game.

Laettner would take the experience he gained as a freshman and use it to help dominate college basketball as an upperclassman. 

3. Kyrie Irving

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CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 18: Kyrie Irving #1 of the Duke Blue Devils points in the first half while taking on the Hampton Pirates during the second round of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Time Warner Cable Arena on March 18, 2011 in Charlotte,

Irving was injured the majority of his rookie season but came back for the NCAA tournament and helped Duke reach the Sweet 16.

Irving put up outstanding numbers for a freshman point guard averaging 14 points, six assists, and four rebounds per game and is now a top NBA prospect in this years draft.

2. Jay Williams

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16 Mar 2002: Jason Williams #22 of Duke celebrates during their game against Notre Dame during the NCAA 2nd round basketball game at the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville, South Carolina. DIGITAL IMAGEMandatory Credit: Craig Jones/Getty Images

Williams had a dominate freshman season putting up 14 points and seven assists per game.

Williams would grow to become arguably the best player on Duke's national championship team in 2001.

1. Johnny Dawkins

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25 Nov 1998: Assistant coach Johnny Dawkins of the Duke Blue Devils watches from the bench during the Carrs Great Alaska Shootout Game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage, Alaska. Duke defeated Notre Dame 111-82. Manda

Dawkins had one of the best statistical seasons as a freshman, scoring 18 points per game and dishing out five assists.

Dawkins also helped lead Duke to its first final four appearance of the Coach K. era.