Duke basketball: Intriguing transfer scheduling call with Blue Devils
Jonathan Pierre, a member of the Division II national champion Nova Southeastern Sharks (36-0), located in Davie, Fla., entered the transfer portal on Monday. The 6-foot-9, long-limbed forward has already reported interest from more than 120 potential suitors, including the Duke basketball program.
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Given that high count, there's no way Pierre could find time to speak at length with all of them, especially considering he plans to choose a school by the end of April.
Still, he's been on Zoom calls with several power-conference coaches. And on Thursday, he told On3's Jamie Shaw that he's in the process of scheduling calls with Auburn and Duke.
"I had no idea this many programs would be interested," Pierre explained to Shaw.
He noted his dream of reaching the NBA and his belief that playing for a Division I team is the next logical step in working toward that goal.
"I want to play for a school that has had a draft pick at my position," Pierre added. "I'll be looking for a program where I can play and a system that will showcase my skill set."
Yes, the Blue Devils check the first box, as they have produced loads of NBA forwards over the years. However, there's no guarantee that Pierre would receive considerable playing time for a 2023-24 Duke basketball squad that will feature a returning starter at small forward in Mark Mitchell and welcome three five-star forwards into the mix.
Furthermore, head coach Jon Scheyer could still see the return of the reigning ACC Rookie of the Year in power forward Kyle Filipowski.
Even so, Pierre's strides as a basketball player are impressive.
Last season, he averaged 14.5 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 40.5 percent from three. Those numbers mark a massive jump from his 4.1 points and 1.6 rebounds as a freshman.
That jump makes sense in light of Jonathan Pierre's background.
Entering his senior year of high school, he was only 6-foot-2 and off the radar of most recruiting services. But a growth spurt, which carried over into his first year at Nova Southeastern, and his subsequent leap into a formidable weapon on the court appear to have caught the attention of the Duke basketball coaches, among many others.
"I kid you not, I grew from like 6-foot-2 to like 6-foot-7 in a month's time," Pierre, a native of Hollywood, Fla., told Shaw. "It was hard for me to walk. I had to re-teach myself how to do everything in my new body. It was a struggle at times...
"I kept my guard skills. But I was very skinny. Nova Southeastern saw me at a local tournament my senior year. I averaged close to a triple-double, and they saw the potential in me. They offered me my only scholarship offer, and I took it."
Nova Southeastern went 67-1 across his two seasons there. So there's no doubt he's accustomed to winning, not to mention dedicated to improving.
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