Duke basketball took a hit Friday with freshman guard Jared McCain’s decision to enter the 2024 NBA Draft.
The move wasn’t unexpected, but McCain’s departure will affect the Blue Devils for the 2024-25 season.
The 6-foot-3 guard improved his draft stock during March Madness this season, averaging 21 points in four tournament games. For his freshman campaign as a whole, McCain shot 46.2% from the floor, 41.4% from beyond the arc and a team-best 88.5% from the free-throw line.
Proving he wasn’t just a scoring threat, McCain also averaged five rebounds last season, a disproportionately high total for a player of his size.
McCain’s height and middling defense are his main knocks in the NBA draft process, as he will likely land as a shooting guard in the league. That’s a position where a player who lacks height and plays so-so defense must be a good scorer to earn regular playing time.
Mock drafts have McCain projected to go in the range between 12th overall and 22nd overall.
The loss of McCain will be felt by Duke and head coach Jon Scheyer, but the announcement Thursday by sophomore point guard Tyrese Proctor of his return for a third season softens the blow.
Despite Proctor’s decision, the Blue Devils are still lacking in backcourt depth. Additionally, the team is awaiting a decision by senior captain Jeremy Roach (14.1 PPG last season), a 6-foot-1 guard who still has eligibility left.
Without McCain and uncertainty surrounding Roach, freshman Caleb Foster will likely earn much of the playing time alongside Proctor in the backcourt.
McCain has the scoring ability to carve out a lengthy career in the NBA and could end up with a similar professional path as former Duke star JJ Redick, who averaged 12.8 points and started and played as a sixth man during his 15-year NBA career.
