Duke Basketball: Jon Scheyer Clarifies Statement on Jaden Schutt
Following the Duke basketball team's 92-54 season-opening home win over Dartmouth on Monday night, second-year head coach Jon Scheyer responded to a question from the media regarding why sophomore guard Jaden Schutt didn't play, even when the Blue Devils emptied their bench. Scheyer's response left folks with more questions than answers.
"Jaden has a long journey ahead of him," Scheyer said. "I love Jaden. I'm going to keep [the reason he didn't play] private for now. But he's in great standing with me — nothing wrong at all. [We] have had some conversations. We're going to continue to do the best thing for him."
It was late. Scheyer didn't say anything wrong. However, at the time, the secrecy in his answer, although understandable, led to many fans expressing concerns on social media and message boards.
So, on Thursday afternoon, as part of his opening statement at his press conference ahead of No. 2 Duke's Friday night battle against No. 12 Arizona in Cameron Indoor Stadium, the 36-year-old Scheyer explained Schutt's status in far more detail.
This time, his answer left folks far more optimistic than concerned about Schutt's future in Durham.
"I just want to clarify [on] Jaden Schutt, the plan is for him to redshirt," Scheyer confirmed to the media. "[We] have had some talks. He actually came to me. And you know, he had an injury in the fall and got behind a little bit and felt that it was best to focus fully on his development, focus fully on getting better every single day."
Last season, Jaden Schutt, a celebrated sharpshooter as a former four-star recruit from Jon Scheyer's home state of Illinois and part of a seven-deep Duke basketball recruiting class, saw limited action for the Blue Devils. Due to the lack of substantial minutes, fans needed to see more to determine what to think about his potential at the ACC level.
He played in 14 games as a freshman, primarily in mop-up duty in blowout victories, averaging 2.1 points and 1.1 rebounds in only 6.9 minutes per outing. And he shot 7-for-20 from three — not bad, but not nearly enough data to form any solid opinion beyond that.
In the Blue Devils' 109-64 exhibition home win over UNC Pembroke earlier this month, Schutt received 12 minutes off the bench, finishing with six points and one assist while shooting 2-for-5 from downtown.
The next time Duke basketball faithful see Jaden Schutt in action, chances are he'll be in his third year as a Blue Devil redshirt sophomore and with more confidence in areas of his game beyond outside shooting.
"He's going to be a really good player here," Scheyer added about Schutt on Thursday before pointing out that it's still possible, albeit seemingly unlikely, that the Blue Devils will need to call upon his in-game services this season. "I think that injury set him back a little bit. And so, again, things can change...
"Me and him both know things can happen, and you need to be ready. But for the moment, that's the plan with him."
Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball news.
