After the transfer portal removed seven Duke players, head coach Jon Scheyer welcomes one in.
The former Syracuse forward, revealed his commitment to the Blue Devils on Instagram. He’s a rising junior with two years of eligibility remaining.
The 6-foot-8 forward started 16 games for the Orange, primarily playing center after Naheem McLeod’s achilles injury sidelined him for the season. Brown produced at a high and consistent level, averaging 9.5 points and 7.2 boards per game.
Despite being undersized in the most of his games, Brown was a very effective scorer, shooting 69.8% from the field in both his freshman and sophomore years. Indeed, he had the highest effective field-goal % in the ACC.
One of the first things that stands out about Brown is his extraordinary athleticism, which includes highlight-reel blocks. His defense is exceptional, as he led the conference with 2.2 steals per game last season.
If the Culpeper, Va., native plays his more natural position of the four, he has the potential to flourish in his third year and be a significant contributor for Duke. However, if Scheyer wishes to go smaller, Brown has proven his ability to play the five.
OFFICIAL: Let's get it @MaliqBrown1! Big-time addition to the squad. 💪👿 pic.twitter.com/XAjE1jvqqQ
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) April 25, 2024
“We are thrilled to add Maliq Brown to our program,” stated Scheyer. “Maliq is a skillful, tough, and versatile forward who brings a competitive edge to every game and practice. Last season at Syracuse, he was one of the most effective offensive players in the country, as well as one of the finest defenders in the ACC, leading the league in steals.
Brown brings much-needed experience to a young club and fills a critical gap in the frontcourt following the departures of players Mark Mitchell, TJ Power, and Sean Stewart.
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