As Duke basketball fans eagerly await 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. On the men’s side, we’ve already looked at Kon Knueppel, Patrick Ngongba II, Isaiah Evans, Khaman Maluach and Cooper Flagg. Next up is incoming transfer Maliq Brown:
After many losses to the transfer portal, Duke took action by securing several talented transfers, including Maliq Brown from Syracuse. A 6-foot-8 forward hailing from Culpepper, Va., Brown should bolster the Blue Devils’ frontcourt with his deft movement and strong team play. In his sophomore season with the Orange, Brown averaged 9.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 0.9 blocks per game while playing in all 32 games. Considering Duke’s roster features six new freshmen, the rising junior could provide leadership and experience during the Blue Devils’ upcoming season.
Brown may serve as head coach Jon Scheyer’s immediate replacement for former Duke forward Mark Mitchell, who transferred to Missouri at the end of the 2023-24 season. The Virginia native is an incredible defensive player as he was selected to the ACC All-Defensive Team just last year. To receive this accolade, Brown led the conference in steals with 71, ranked 11th in rebounding and 14th in blocked shots. The versatile forward is also extremely efficient; this past season, Brown shot 69.8% from the field, with almost all of his baskets around the rim. Watch Brown create this transition play turning great defense into an easy dunk:
Using his elite instincts, Brown tends to find a way to get into a prime position underneath the basket. When watching him, his 6-foot-8 frame appears longer, as he stretches through or around defenders to impact the game on both sides of the floor. Brown combines this athleticism with great awareness, as there’s not a play where the former Syracuse man isn’t tracking the ball. In this clip, watch Brown turn towards the basket and collect an offensive rebound while smoothly converting a contested layup.
Staying vigilant on the glass will be vital to Duke’s success this year. Former Blue Devil center Ryan Young excelled at extending plays by securing offensive rebounds. This year, Brown can provide that same grittiness in fighting for loose balls to keep Duke’s offense rolling. In terms of his defensive capabilities, Brown’s numbers speak for themselves. But in case you need more convincing, watch this violent block as Brown viciously protects the rim:
In the clip above. Brown recognizes his teammate needs help and swiftly handles the threat. Having the rising junior on the roster will help frontcourt freshmen Patrick Ngongba II and Khaman Maluach learn to play interior defense against difficult in-conference opponents. On the offensive side, Brown can be absolutely relentless attacking the glass. In the first clip below, watch as Brown does not give up on his way to an and-one, while in the second clip, Brown converts a thunderous dunk over three opponents.
Brown could very well be the Swiss Army knife in this year’s Blue Devil team. While he may not be as flashy as his teammates in this star-filled roster, the veteran will be an underrated piece focused on doing the dirty work by staying on the glass, protecting the basket and doing whatever he can to help Duke win.
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