As Duke basketball fans continue to wait for the upcoming season, the Blue Zone is here to break down film from the new additions to both the men’s and women’s teams. We've already looked at Jenessa Cotton. Next up is Riley Nelson:
Riley Nelson, an incoming sophomore transfer, brings talent and versatility to the Blue Devils. Standing at 6-foot-2, the former University of Maryland guard demonstrated her collegiate potential by averaging 14.1 minutes and 5.1 points per game before tearing her ACL on Jan. 14 against Purdue. The Bullis School alum was also a five-star recruit, McDonald's All American and ranked 17th nationally among incoming freshmen in high school. Let’s examine what Nelson will bring to Duke in the upcoming season.
The Clarksburg, Md., native’s ability to handle the ball with skill and finesse allows her to drive to the basket quickly and effectively create her own shot. This skill will provide Duke with a versatile guard who can break down defenses and create scoring opportunities both for herself and her teammates. Nelson will seamlessly fit into Kara Lawson’s squad, a team for which transition buckets arising from strong defense is critical to success. In the clip below, notice how she demonstrates her ball-handling prowess, navigating through defenders with ease and finishing strong at the rim.
She often draws contact on these runs and ends up at the charity stripe. Her aggressive drives pressure opposing defenses, forcing them to make difficult decisions quickly. They can either give her space and risk an easy basket, or contest and send her to the line where she can then capitalize. Watch how Nelson draws contact and drains two free throws in the clip below.
Another one of Nelson standout skills is her 3-point shooting ability. Her quick releases and accuracy allow her to be a constant threat from beyond the arc. During the 2023-24 season, the Blue Devils often struggled with inconsistent shooting. Forward Delaney Thomas led the team in shooting percentage at 38.5%, while guard Ashlon Jackson averaged the most 3-pointers per game, with 1.7. The former five-star recruit’s potential to hit shots from deep could improve Duke’s offense and create additional space for teammates to drive inside the paint. Watch below as Nelson positions herself on the perimeter, ready to catch and shoot, quickly setting her feet and releasing with fluidity and precision.
Nelson’s skills are likely to elevate the Blue Devils in their 2024-2025 season. As a team known for its defensive prowess, Duke should benefit from her offensive depth and versatility.
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