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Duke Basketball One-And-Done Catches Fire in Front of Jon Scheyer

On and off the court, Duke basketball is making its presence known in Las Vegas this week.
Matt Giles|
Duke Basketball One-And-Done Catches Fire in Front of Jon Scheyer
Duke Basketball One-And-Done Catches Fire in Front of Jon Scheyer

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Retired Duke basketball legend Mike Krzyzewski and his wife, Mickie, are in Las Vegas. So are second-year head coach Jon Scheyer and a few of his cohorts.

They and dozens of former Duke basketball players — a mix of on-court participants in this week's NBA Summer League and coaches or executives in the NBA or G League —  gathered for a ballroom meal.

RELATED: Two Duke Alums Secure First Wins in Head Coach Role

Their group picture below is a testament to the program's success in churning out professionals spanning all levels and forging intergenerational bonds between former players:

Then on Friday evening, Scheyer, along with newly minted associate head coach Jai Lucas and general manager Rachel Baker, pulled up courtside at the Cox Pavilion in Vegas to watch 2021-22 Duke basketball one-and-done Trevor Keels play for the Knicks in their 97-89 win over the Boston Celtics.

Keels, who went No. 42 overall at last year's draft and signed a two-way contract with the Knicks, had struggled in Vegas. Entering Friday's contest, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound guard averaged 6.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 17.7 minutes per game as a starter, shooting only 30.8 percent from the field and 25.0 percent beyond the arc.

But with Scheyer & Co. sitting only a few feet from the action, Trevor Keels enjoyed his best shooting performance of the week.

The 19-year-old, still only two years removed from his arrival in Durham as a five-star McDonald's All-American out of Paul VI Catholic (Va.), shot 7-for-10 overall, 4-for-5 from three, and 2-for-3 at the charity stripe on his way to an efficient 20-point outing.

A couple of Keels' buckets, including one splash from downtown, arrived late in the fourth quarter when the Celtics were climbing back. He also tallied three boards, three dimes, and a steal in his weeklong-high 30 minutes on the floor.

Two-way contracts aren't of the guaranteed variety. With that in mind, another strong showing by Trevor Keels in the Knicks' final Summer League outing, which comes against the Denver Nuggets at 8:30 p.m. ET Saturday, sure wouldn't hurt.

RELATED: List of Every Former Blue Devil Currently in the NBA

Last season, Keels was on the court in only three games for the New York Knicks, totaling three points and two rebounds in eight minutes.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for daily doses of 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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