Blue Devil Country

Former Duke Basketball Talent Gives Endearing Signal After Beating UNC

Despite transferring out of Durham four years ago, Jaemyn Brakefield delivered more joy to the Duke basketball program.
Matt Giles|
Former Duke basketball forward Jaemyn Brakefield
Former Duke basketball forward Jaemyn Brakefield | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

In this story:

Duke Blue Devils

Thanks in part to former one-year Duke basketball forward Jaemyn Brakefield's production off the bench, the No. 6 seed Ole Miss Rebels (23-11) advanced to the NCAA Tournament South Regional Round of 32 by recording a 71-64 victory over the No. 11 seed Tar Heels (23-14) in Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum on Friday.

ALSO READ: Jon Scheyer Enjoys 'Workmanlike Performance' From Blue Devils

And it appears that Brakefield, who was 0-2 versus the archrival Tar Heels while at Duke in 2020-21, found extra satisfaction in defeating UNC. With goggles on in the winning locker room afterward, the 24-year-old re-endeared himself to Blue Devil faithful by flashing the following "bull horns" hand signal (a symbol of the "Bull City" Durham and nowadays embraced as a secondary Duke logo):

Across his 27 minutes of action versus the Tar Heels, Brakefield tallied 12 points, three rebounds, and four assists while shooting 3-for-8 from the field, 2-for-5 beyond the arc, and 4-for-6 at the foul line.

Through 34 outings this season, his fourth at Ole Miss, Brakefield is averaging 10.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. He's shooting 50.4 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three, and 72.2 percent at the charity stripe.

He and the Rebels next face the No. 3 seed Iowa State Cyclones (25-9) at 7:45 p.m. ET Sunday (truTV).

Meanwhile, third-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his No. 1 seed Blue Devils (32-3) are gearing up to face one of the program's former players in Jeremy Roach and the No. 9 seed Baylor Bears (20-14) at 2:40 p.m. Sunday (CBS).

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

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