Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Guard Inches Closer to ACC Rookie of the Year

Duke basketball star Jared McCain is now a two-time ACC Rookie of the Week.
Matt Giles|
Photo credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

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Duke Blue Devils

Nine of the past 12 ACC Rookie of the Year winners have been Duke basketball players. That includes the past two in Paolo Banchero and Kyle Filipowski.

And as of Monday, first-year Duke guard Jared McCain has landed two of the past four ACC Rookie of the Week honors while emerging as arguably the most potent weapon for the No. 8 Blue Devils (20-5, 11-3 ACC).

In other words, if McCain continues to sizzle to the degree he has of late, the Blue Devils may well make it 10 of the past 13 in the ACC Rookie of the Year race.

This week's recognition was due to the McDonald's All-American from California averaging 26.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.0 steals between Duke's home win over unranked Wake Forest last Monday night and Saturday afternoon's road victory over unranked Florida State.

His 35-point effort against the Seminoles tied Zion Williamson's record for Blue Devil freshmen and was the sixth-highest scoring outing by any ACC rookies in history. Furthermore, Jared McCain's 8-for-11 clip from downtown in the contest left him only one shy of the overall Duke basketball record for 3-point makes in a game.

RELATED: Jon Scheyer Notices 'Big Step' in Duke's Win at FSU

He's averaging 13.8 points and 4.9 rebounds for the season while shooting 41.1 percent beyond the arc.

Meanwhile, Filipowski remains the only 2023-24 Blue Devil to receive the ACC Player of the Week distinction. The sophomore forward did so only once: way back on Dec. 18.

NEXT DUKE BASKETBALL GAME: at unranked Miami (15-11, 6-9 ACC), 7 p.m. ET Wednesday (ESPN)

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Duke Recruiting Prize Reacts to Jared McCain Mania

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball news.

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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.

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