It’s been a rough week for North Carolina fans. Less than two days after the Tar Heels fell to Villanova in the National Championship, Duke’s All-ACC wing Grayson Allen announced he will put off his jump to the NBA for at least another year, returning to Duke for his junior season in 2016-17.
His coach, Mike Krzyzewski, was pleased.
“We are thrilled that Grayson will be back with us next season.” Krzyzewski said. “Following the season, he put a lot of thought into an important decision that will impact the rest of his life. In the end, he chose to remain at Duke, where he will pursue an undergraduate degree and develop even more as a man and basketball player.”
The 6-4 wing, who hails from Jacksonville, Fla., played somewhat sparingly during his freshman season, when the Blue Devils won the 2015 NCAA Tournament; however, he blossomed in an expanded role as a sophomore. Allen averaged 21.6 points per game while shooting a team-high 41.7 percent on three-pointers. He was named first team All-ACC by the media and coaches while ranking second in the league in scoring, third in minutes (36.6 per game), and fourth in three-pointers per game.
After the season he had, which resulted in an appearance in the Sweet 16 for Duke, many thought he’d enter the 2016 NBA Draft. Allen, however, had other ideas.
“I talked with my parents and prayed about this decision, and I had the feeling that it was right,” Allen said. “I love Duke and I’ve made relationships with my teammates that will last forever. Coming back next season to play with them is important to me. Earning a Duke degree has always been a dream of mine, so I’ll also be working to get closer to that goal.”
Barring a transfer of some kind, Duke will return everyone from this year’s team, minus Brandon Ingram and Marshall Plumlee. Joining Allen in Durham next season will be the nation’s No. 2 recruiting class, which features two of the top five incoming prospects: Harry Giles (High Point, NC) and Jayson Tatum (St. Louis, MO).
With Allen in the mix, and the return of a healthy Amile Jefferson, and the Blue Devils look to by the heavy title favorites for 2016-17. For a look at those odds, check here.