Blue Devil Country

Former Duke Basketball Wing Draws Start for Stagnant ACC Squad

One-year Duke basketball player TJ Power had three field goal attempts in his Virginia debut, one more than his average as a Blue Devil.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball forward TJ Power versus Virginia
Duke basketball forward TJ Power versus Virginia / Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images
In this story:

TJ Power transferred to Virginia following his Duke basketball freshman campaign last season, presumably with the hope of showing off his smooth spot-up 3-pointer more often.

ALSO READ: Ex-Duke Forward Delivers Another Statement Effort in NBA

But the Cavaliers' infamously drab offense appears to have carried over from Tony Bennett's tenure into Ron Sanchez's interim season at the helm in Charlottesville. With that in mind, there's no guarantee Power will enjoy much of an uptick in scoring opportunities compared to his Blue Devil stint, in which he played 26 games but averaged only 2.1 points in 7.0 minutes per outing.

On Wednesday night, the 6-foot-9, 221-pound sophomore earned a spot in the starting lineup for Virginia's season opener. However, across Power's career-high 19 minutes on the floor in the 65-56 home win over Campbell, the former five-star Massachussetts prep scored only three points, shooting 1-for-3 from the field, including a 1-for-2 clip from deep.

He added three rebounds, one assist, and one steal.

Power is one of seven 2023-24 Duke basketball talents who transferred out of Durham in the spring. And he's one of four now suiting up for another ACC program, along with Virginia Tech's Jaden Schutt, Stanford's Jaylen Blakes, and Clemson's Christian Reeves.

Jon Scheyer's third batch of Blue Devils is slated to square off against Virginia and TJ Power only once in the regular season, a Feb. 17 showdown in Charlottesville.

ALSO READ: Blue Devil Alum Jaylen Blakes Tallies Career Highs for New Squad

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