Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Champ Outduels NC State Great in New York

The Duke basketball program is campaigning for Blue Devil treasure Jahlil Okafor's return to the NBA.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball center Jahlil Okafor
Duke basketball center Jahlil Okafor / Mark Dolejs-Imagn Images
In this story:

At this point, it's almost comical that a franchise hasn't given Duke basketball product Jahlil Okafor another NBA opportunity.

ALSO READ: Prime Duke Target Nate Ament Falls Short of Crown in Raleigh

On Monday night, the 6-foot-10, 270-pound Chicago native, now in the G League and three-plus years removed from his last NBA appearance, recorded a career-high 38 points for the Indiana Mad Ants in a 127-124 road win over the Westchester Knicks. His effort, including a blistering 18-for-21 shooting clip from the field, was enough to combat a 30-point outing by the home team's top weapon in former NC State basketball standout TJ Warren.

Okafor added six rebounds, two assists, and one steal in the contest.

The 29-year-old, who came off the board No. 3 overall at the 2015 NBA Draft following his one-and-done season as a Duke basketball national champion, is now averaging 19.1 points and 8.8 rebounds across 18 games with the Mad Ants. He's shooting 67.3 percent from the field and 78.7 percent at the charity stripe.

Reacting to Jahlil Okafor's latest performance, the official Duke basketball account posted the following message on Tuesday morning: "League him asap."

Between his 247 NBA outings spanning four franchises from 2015-21, Okafor averaged 10.4 points and 4.7 rebounds.

As a Blue Devil, he became the ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC Player of the Year, and a consensus First Team All-American.

ALSO READ: Where Duke Ranks Entering Battle Versus Ex-Blue Devil Jaden Schutt

Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball news.

Published
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.

Home/Basketball