Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Captains Considered One Freshman to Join Them

Duke basketball freshman Jared McCain has earned considerable respect from veteran Blue Devils.

Matt Giles

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The latest episode of The Brotherhood Podcast — still the only in-house college hoops podcast — featured Duke basketball's trio of 2023-24 captains in senior guard Jeremy Roach, grad center Ryan Young, and sophomore guard Tyrese Proctor. Naturally, they spent some of their 40-minute chat discussing their leadership role.

RELATED: Duke's Tyrese Proctor Named Nation's No. 2 Breakout Star

Young asked Roach and Proctor which teammates they voted for as captains. They both named each other and Young.

"I was the same," Young said about his votes for Roach and Proctor before pointing out another name he may have favored. "I might have thrown in Jared."

It would be unheard of for a rookie to become a captain before playing his first Duke basketball game. But first-year Blue Devil guard Jared McCain, a hardworking, upbeat, always-talking five-star talent who arrived in Durham with over two million TikTok followers, is no ordinary teenager.

"I think I threw Jared in there," Proctor noted.

Then Young explained their rationale.

"I just thought, it is hard to put a freshman up there as a captain, especially when we have these old guys," Young recounted. "So, I didn't know how much [head coach Jon] Scheyer would take that into account.

"But one, his work ethic, obviously. He's here. He pushes guys. But for as much as he talks, you go down the roster, he's a top-four-or-five guy in terms of just being vocal, which is pretty impressive for a freshman."

At least this year, Jared McCain won't be a Blue Devil captain. However, that doesn't mean he won't be a natural leader, potentially as a Day 1 starter alongside Proctor and Roach.

And that's not all he provides. Earlier this week, the official Duke basketball account reminded folks of McCain's sharpshooting by posting a highlight of the reigning champion of the McDonald's All-American Game 3-Point Contest recently catching fire from deep in the program's practice facility:

Duke basketball season, the second under Scheyer's command, begins at home against Dartmouth on Nov. 6.

Predicting Duke's Ranking in Preseason AP Top 25

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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