Duke freshman Grayson Allen: 'I will be back next year'

Duke freshman guard Grayson Allen said he will be back next year and that he will not enter the NBA draft.

SI Wire | Apr 8, 2015

Duke freshman Grayson Allen: 'I will be back next year' /

Duke freshman guard Grayson Allen said he will return to Duke next season, according to Laura Keeley of the Raleigh News & Observer.

Allen saw his stock rise after he scored 16 points in the national championship game to help Duke defeat Wisconsin. A former four-star, top-30 recruit on Rivals, Allen averaged 4.4 points and 1.0 rebound in 9.2 minutes per game this season.

• Check out Duke's Grayson Allen throwing down dunks in high school

ESPN's Chad Ford said Tuesday that he had been "getting lots of positive feedback" on Allen from NBA people, adding that the guard could possibly be a first-round draft pick if he declared.

"I didn't know you could go from being the eighth guy [on the team] to a first-round pick," Allen said on Wednesday.

Duke freshmen Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones are all also considered NBA prospects and have not yet announced whether they will declare for the draft.

• GREENE: Duke's forgotten freshman Grayson Allen shines

Jones told Keeley that Okafor's and Winslow's decisions will impact his own.

The Blue Devils won their fifth national championship with their victory over the Badgers. - Molly Geary

GALLERY: SI'S BEST PHOTOS FROM DUKE-WISCONSIN

SI's Best Photos of the Duke-Wisconsin National Title Game

Duke won its fifth national title in college basketball with a 68-63 victory over Wisconsin on April 6 in Indianapolis. Here are SI's best photos of the game.

Jahlil Okafor (15), Matt Jones (13) and the rest of the Duke team celebrate the final buzzer that sealed the program's fifth championship.

Duke players pile on each other in celebration in the moments following their 68-63 national title game triumph over Wisconsin.

Quinn Cook (holding trophy) and the rest of the Duke squad pose amidst cheers and confetti with their national championship prize.

Guards Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook were front and center for Duke this season and also on the podium after Monday's game.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski cuts down the Final Four nets for the fifth time as Duke head coach. The 2015 title pushed Krzyzewski past Adolph Rupp into sole possession of second place on the list of championship-winning coaches, behind only John Wooden with 10.

Justise Winslow and Grayson Allen celebrate a key play during Duke's 68-63 win. Winslow and Allen finished with 11 and 16 points, respectively.

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

Wisconsin's Josh Gasser discovers blood on his face during his team's championship game loss. The senior was held scoreless on one shot in his final college game.

Grayson-Allen-Traevon-Jackson-X159490_CT1_01958-rawfinal_0.jpg — Greg Nelson for Sports Illustrated

Guards Traevon Jackson and Grayson Allen race for a loose ball. Allen had the better day of the back-up guards, scoring 16 points on 5-8 shooting.

Grayson Allen takes a tumble after lunging for a loose ball against Traevon Jackson and Wisconsin.

Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky got the better of Duke's Jahlil Okafor in a battle of All-Americans. Kaminsky tallied 21 points and 12 rebounds in his team's loss.

Wisconsin's bench celebrates a big play during Monday's title game. The Badgers led by as many as 9 points in the second half before falling 68-63.

Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky battles for position against Duke's Amile Jefferson. As Jahlil Okafor struggled through foul trouble, Jefferson provided key defense on Kaminsky throughout the night.

Frank-Kaminsky-Jahlil-Okafor-Josh-Gasser-X159490_CT1_01699-rawfinal_0.jpg — Greg Nelson for Sports Illustrated

Wisconsin contained Duke center Jahlil Okafor for most of Monday night, holding the freshman to 10 points and three rebounds.

Grayson-Allen-Frank-Kaminsky-X159489_CT2_00574-rawfinal_0.jpg — John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

Duke's forgotten freshman Grayson Allen jumped off the bench and became Duke's national championship hero.

Justise Winslow and Duke overcame a nine-point second-half deficit in the win.

Tyus Jones shoots a layup for two of his 23 points. The Duke freshman was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.

Duke point guard Tyus Jones hoists a tough lay-up over Wisconsin's Bronson Koenig. Jones was the Blue Devils' hero, scoring 23 points and drilling several clutch 3-pointers.

Duke freshmen guards Tyus Jones and Grayson Allen combined for 39 points of their team's 68 points Monday night.

Wisconsin alum and Houston Texans star J.J. Watt left disappointed Monday, as his alma mater lost 68-63 at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Duke forward Justise Winslow soars toward the basket. Despite shooting only 3-9 from the field, Winslow managed 11 points and added nine rebounds.

Duke guard Grayson Allen contorts his body to lift a shot over two Wisconsin defenders. In addition to 5-8 shooting, Allen reached the free throw line five times and made all five shots.

Wisconsin guard Bronson Koenig attempts to lay the ball in over Duke forward Justise Winslow. Koenig scored 10 points on 4-9 shooting.

Grayson Allen flies toward the backboard over the contest of Wisconsin's Sam Dekker. Allen was among Duke's heroes Monday despite averaging only 4.4 points per game on the season.

After lapsing on defense periodically throughout the season, Duke stepped up on that end Monday, holding Sam Dekker and Wisconsin to 41 percent shooting.

Wisconsin forward Sam Dekker, one of the NCAA Tournament's best players through five games, shot 6-15 Monday including 0-6 from 3-point range, scoring 12 points.

Duke center Jahlil Okafor draws all eyes as he lifts a lay-up during Duke's national title game victory over Wisconsin.

In a matchup of arguably the nation's two best players, Frank Kaminsky put up the stats but Jahlil Okafor and Duke got the victory.

Duke guard Tyus Jones clashes with Wisconsin center Frank Kaminsky as the freshman attempts to score at the basket. Jones (23 points) and Kaminsky (21 points) led their respective teams in scoring Monday night.

Dukes fans enjoyed their team's 68-63 victory with cheers and body paint.

Duke's student section had much to celebrate Monday night, as their team recovered from down 9 points to deliver a national title to Durham.

The U.S. Army band performs the Star Spangled Banner before Wisconsin and Duke's national title game matchup.

Published Apr 8, 2015

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