Big men with great assists

Duke's separator

Duke was leading Wake Forest 82-61 Saturday, with about four minutes left. Duke ball. Isaiah Evans sprinted from the right corner to the basket and was rewarded for his efforts with a great pass, a bullet, through a tight window, perfectly led.

Evans finished with a dunk. Montana to Rice. Or Hurley to Hill.

Here’s the rub. That great pass didn’t come from a guard, Not even a perimeter player. In fact, not even a starter.

That was the last of Maliq Brown’s five assists. It might not even have been his most impressive. Earlier in the half there was his lob to Cameron Boozer for a dunk off a scramble. Brown was whipping passes into the corner, setting screens, going to the glass, even hitting a triple.

It’s been some time since anyone called Duke “Point Guard U.” No Duke point guard has averaged more than four assists per game since Tre Jones averaged 6.4 per game in 2020.

Jordan Goldwire averaged exactly 4.0 the following season, the Covid season. Jeremy Roach, Tyrese Proctor, Sion James were good facilitators. But nothing like elite pass-first points like Tommy Amaker, Bobby Hurley, Chris Duhon, the Jones brothers.

That might change next season when Deron Rippey, Jr. joins the Duke roster. He’s considered the nation’s best prep point guard and last month committed to Duke over NC State, Tennessee and other prominent suitors.

Or maybe not. Scheyer seems to like the way things are. It’s not like it’s not working.