As basketball season quickly approaches, the Blue Zone takes a detailed look at Duke men’s basketball’s 2022-23 roster, with a preview of each player. Previously, we’ve highlighted Stanley Borden, Spencer Hubbard, Max Johns, Kale Catchings, Ryan Young, Christian Reeves, Jaylen Blakes, Jaden Schutt, Tyrese Proctor, Mark Mitchell and Kyle Filipowski. Up next is Jacob Grandison:
Jacob Grandison
Year: Graduate student
Height: 6-foot-6
Position: Guard
Last year’s stat line (Illinois): 25.0 MPG, 9.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG
Game Breakdown: The silky-smooth swagger of the sharp-shooting Jacob Grandison is unmatched. He walks at his own rhythm, dances without fear and plays basketball in a composed yet fun way that Fighting Illini fans fell in love with.
The graduate transfer is a walking bucket. Last season, he knocked down 41% of his shot attempts from beyond the arc while still managing to grab 3.8 boards per game, a stat that ranked him fourth on the team. His combination of size and skillset helps him have an impact on the offensive end: he posted an impressive 2.1 Offensive Win Shares in the 2021-22 season.
Role on the team: Grandison is already a proven product at the collegiate level. With freshman guard Dariq Whitehead still injured, there is a strong case for the 24-year-old to crack the starting five. Even if he doesn’t, there’s no doubt that Grandison will see solid minutes on the floor as a lights-out shooter, secondary ball-handler and fan-favorite player.
His three-point shot will be key for Duke. It’s clear that the team has size and firepower near the rim, so how well the squad shoots will be a key indicator of the Blue Devils’ success. Alongside junior captain Jeremy Roach, he will be a veteran presence on a team of young players.
NBA Comparison: Grandison shares a similar repertoire with former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson. Both have longer and slimmer frames and, more often than not, shy away from contact. Rather, they both use their smooth ball-handling and knock-down jumper to put defenders on skates and provide offensive outbursts for their respective teams. Whenever and wherever, they each are the type of player that’ll snatch the ball out of their opponent's hands and sink an exhilarating three-pointer with a defender in their face.
Projected Stats: 24.0 MPG, 8.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG
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