Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Giving Headaches to Former Blue Devil Player

In his return to Durham, Duke basketball alum Jaylen Blakes went scoreless in the first half.
Matt Giles|
Duke basketball
Duke basketball | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

In this story:

Duke Blue Devils

Jaylen Blakes, a former three-year Duke basketball guard and graduate before transferring to Stanford for his final college campaign, entered his return to Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday averaging a career-high 14.5 points per game, over seven times higher than what he posted for the 2023-24 Blue Devils.

ALSO READ: Top North Carolina Recruit Attends Duke Home Game

But in the first half against the No. 3-ranked Blue Devils (21-3, 13-1 ACC), Blakes and the Cardinal (16-9, 8-6 ACC) struggled to the tune of 49-34 halftime deficit.

And Blakes, now a 21-year-old guard four weeks removed from playing the role of hero in defeating the UNC Tar Heels in his return to Chapel Hill, finished 0-for-5 from the field in the first half against the Blue Devils. Across 17 minutes, he tallied zero points, one rebound, one assist, and two turnovers.

Duke junior guard Tyrese Proctor, a former two-year teammate to Blakes who is on a tear of late, led all scorers with 17 points at the half. The Blue Devils shot 58.1 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes of action, including a 7-for-16 clip beyond the arc.

Following the bout against Stanford, Duke basketball will gear up for a road contest versus the Virginia Cavaliers (13-12, 6-8 ACC) at 8 p.m. ET Monday (ESPN).

ALSO READ: Former Duke Guard Secures Next NBA Opportunity

Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball news.

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations

Published
Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

Share on XFollow MattGilesBD
Home/Basketball