Blue Devil Country

WATCH: Duke Basketball Rookie Soars Twice in Sensational Sequence

Sean Stewart took flight for the Duke basketball team in the first half against Notre Dame.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
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First-year Duke basketball forward Sean Stewart hasn't been a consistent member of the rotation this season. And he's looked out of position at times, second-guessing where he should be on the court.

But when the former five-star McDonald's All-American and neighbor to Duke legend Grant Hill in Windermere, Fla., does deliver during his limited minutes of action, the potential impact that the aggressive bruiser's athleticism could have on the No. 9 Blue Devils (16-5, 7-3 ACC) has been undeniable.

That was the case during one high-flying sequence on Wednesday night in Cameron Indoor Stadium after second-year head coach Jon Scheyer called the 6-foot-9, 225-pound rookie's number relatively early in the first half of Duke's home meeting with unranked Notre Dame (7-15, 2-9 ACC).

Less than a minute after clanking two free throw attempts entering the under-12 media timeout, Sean Stewart, who broke Zion Williamson's Duke vertical leap record in the preseason, responded with a Zion-esque block. And on the other end of the floor a few seconds later, he flushed an alley-oop, again in Zion-like fashion.

Naturally, the Cameron Crazies erupted.

Check out the highlight, which the Duke basketball social media team demanded be on SportsCenter:

At the time this article was published, the Blue Devils, looking to bounce back from Saturday night's rivalry loss at No. 3 UNC, led the Fighting Irish at the half, 33-25. Sean Stewart had two points, two rebounds, one block, and one steal in six minutes off the bench before the break.

NEXT DUKE BASKETBALL GAME: at home versus unranked Boston College (13-9, 4-7 ACC), 2 p.m. ET Saturday (ESPN)

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Duke Great Grayson Allen Assesses Jon Scheyer's Blue Devils

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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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