Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball: '3J Power' Makes Case for More Looks in Games

TJ Power looks like a Duke basketball sharpshooter in the making.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball forward TJ Power (Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports)
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Duke basketball freshman forward TJ Power arrived in Durham as a five-star prospect at No. 20 overall on the 247Sports 2023 Composite. Thus far, though, he hasn't cracked the regular rotation. And he may not for another season or two, although there's no denying his positivity and potential as a versatile wing.

On the other hand, if the 6-foot-9, 215-pound Massachusetts native continues to shoot as lights-out as he did in the ninth-ranked Blue Devils' 95-66 home win over La Salle on Tuesday night, second-year head coach Jon Scheyer may soon have no choice to give him more than mere mop-up duty in future contests.

His smooth stroke beyond the arc in his playing time across the final six minutes against La Salle was a thing of beauty. Put simply, he assumed the role of waking up the Cameron Crazies late.

He connected on three of his four attempts, all from deep, marking the first field goals of his Blue Devil career.

That performance drew the first "3J Power" shoutout of the season from the Duke basketball social media team in these posted highlights:

"For me, TJ, he always has had the green light," Scheyer explained to the media afterward. "He'll continue to have the green light."

In his previous 19 minutes this season between blowout victories over Dartmouth and Bucknell in Cameron Indoor Stadium, Power was 0-for-4 from 3-point land, and his only points were courtesy of his 2-for-2 clip at the charity stripe.

The Blue Devils (4-1) next host Southern Indiana on Friday at 6 p.m. ET in their third and final Blue Devil Challenge matchup.

Chances are the Screaming Eagles (1-5) will be outmatched. So, TJ Power should have an opportunity to keep the fire burning on his shooting hand.

Duke Guard's Pristine Start Mirrors Senior-Year Jon Scheyer

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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