Duke basketball guard Tyrese Proctor (Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports)

Duke Basketball: Latest Update on Injured Blue Devil Guard

Duke basketball's Tyrese Proctor is recovering from a sprained ankle, the severity of which remains unknown.

Author:
Matt Giles
Dec 7, 2023 2:48 PM EST

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Early in the first half of Saturday afternoon's 72-68 road loss to unranked Georgia Tech, Duke basketball sophomore guard Tyrese Proctor rolled his left ankle. Later in the game, the program's social media team referred to it as a "lower body injury."

As usual, the Blue Devils went days without revealing any specifics or updates on the injury.

But during Wednesday evening's edition of Fast Break With Jon Scheyer, the second-year head coach provided play-by-play voice David Shumate some more insight into Proctor's status.

"Tyrese is doing well," Scheyer noted. "It's a tough thing when he goes down like that. And obviously, he couldn't return to the game. But he sprained his ankle. And really, he's just working every day to be back as soon as possible. And he's not there yet, but he's working like crazy to be back with the team."

Proctor, who regularly appears alongside fellow Duke basketball sophomore Kyle Filipowski as a projected 2024 first-round draft pick, is the squad's full-time starting floor general. He's averaging 10.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 4.5 assists, shooting 43.9 percent from the field, 32.4 percent from three, and 86.7 percent at the charity stripe.

There's still no word on the severity of the 19-year-old Australian's sprain or a timeline for his return. Perhaps freshman guard Caleb Foster will see more time at point guard during Tyrese Proctor's absence, sharing the load with senior guard Jeremy Roach, a co-captain alongside Proctor and graduate big man Ryan Young.

Fortunately for the 22nd-ranked Blue Devils (5-3, 0-1 ACC), they have only four games remaining on their December schedule.

However, that slate includes a showdown with No. 6 Baylor (9-0, 0-0 Big 12) in New York City's Madison Square Garden on Dec. 20. And given the ACC's relative lack of proven national prowess this season, that game against the Bears could be Duke's last shot at recording a win over a top-10 team.

First, the Blue Devils host two unranked opponents in Cameron Indoor Stadium: Charlotte (5-3, 0-0 AAC) on Saturday at 2:15 p.m. ET and Hofstra (6-2, 0-0 Colonial Athletic) on Tuesday at 7 p.m.