This could become a common trend.
Freshman center Jahlil Okafor was named the ACC Rookie of the Week Monday after averaging 18.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 blocks per game in Duke's first two games, a 113-44 blowout of Presbyterian Friday and a 109-59 rout of Fairfield Saturday night.
The AP Preseason Player of the Year showed no signs of nerves before his college debut despite admitting he did not sleep Thursday night, going 9-of-10 from the field in his first collegiate game and backing up his opening night performance by going 8-of-10 Saturday.
Okafor turned the ball over three times in the early going against Fairfield, but bounced back quickly to spark Duke's 64.5 percent shooting effort. Okafor's ability to pass efficiently out of double teams has made the Blue Devils almost impossible to defend, an attribute which will be put to the test Tuesday against No. 19 Michigan State, a physical squad with an identity based in defending the ball and controlling the boards.
In addition to the conference honor, Okafor and classmate Tyus Jones were named to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 Monday. No Blue Devil has won the Wooden Award—presented to the nation's most outstanding player—since J.J. Redick took home the honors in 2006.
Five other freshmen joined Okafor and Jones on the list, including a trio of rookies that will be in Indianapolis Tuesday night in Kentucky's Karl-Anthony Towns and Kansas' Cliff Alexander and Kelly Oubre Jr.
Other ACC representatives on the watch list included Malcolm Brogdon of Virginia, Marcus Paige of North Carolina, Montrezl Harrell and Terry Rozier of Louisville, Olivier Hanlan of Boston College and Jerian Grant of Notre Dame.
Through two games this season, Duke's freshman class has shown why the rookie Blue Devils were billed as the nation's best group coming out of high school. Okafor, Jones, Justise Winslow and Grayson Allen are all averaging double-figures thus far, with Okafor and Winslow leading the Blue Devils in scoring.
Handed the keys to the Duke offense, Jones has racked up 12 assists against just three turnovers, and has also hit open shots when not looking to find his teammates. The Apple Valley, Minn., native has shared the backcourt with senior Quinn Cook with tremendous results; the captain is averaging 4.5 assists per game and, given an opportunity to play more off the ball, has been an effective scorer for Duke as well, pouring in 15.5 points per contest in the Blue Devils' opening weekend.
Allen has been a spark off the bench for Duke, knocking down corner 3-pointers and leaking out on the break. Averaging 15.5 minutes per contest, the athletic wing has carved out a niche for himself in a loaded Blue Devil backcourt, and will likely continue to see playing time if he can keep extending defenses out on the perimeter with his dangerous 3-point stroke.
Regardless of whether or not Duke keeps putting up eye-popping numbers as a team, Okafor should keep reeling in the accolades with very few teams around the country capable of slowing the Chicago native down.
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