Blue Devil Country

Former Duke Basketball Player Stars In NCAA Tournament Victory

One-year Duke basketball forward Jaemyn Brakefield poured in 19 points to help his team advance to the Sweet 16.

Matt Giles

Former Duke basketball forward Jaemyn Brakefield
Former Duke basketball forward Jaemyn Brakefield / Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
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Despite now coming off the bench after being a full-time starter the past two seasons, Jaemyn Brakefield helped power his No. 6 seed Ole Miss Rebels (24-11) past the No. 3 seed Iowa State Cyclones (25-10) on Sunday night. The former Duke basketball forward and his team won, 91-78, clinching the program's first Sweet 16 appearance since 2001.

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In 26 minutes of action off the bench, the 24-year-old tallied 19 points, along with two rebounds and two steals. He also shot a notably efficient 6-for-8 from the field, including a perfect 2-for-2 clip from three and 5-for-5 from the charity stripe.

The 6-foot-8, 225-pound graduate senior has spent the past four seasons at Ole Miss after his lone season with the Blue Devils as a freshman. He's been a key piece off the bench, averaging 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 51.2 percent from the floor. He's also eclipsed the 1,000-point threshold as a Rebel.

As a freshman for the Blue Devils in 2020-21, Brakefield averaged just 3.5 points and 2.5 rebounds a game between his 22 outings.

But it's clear Brakefield still feels some loyalty to his old program, flashing the "bull horns" hand signal (a symbol of the "Bull City" Durham and recently becoming a embraced secondary Duke logo) after he and Ole Miss defeated Duke rival UNC, 71-64, in the Rebels' opening round victory.

He and the Rebels next face the No. 2 seed Michigan State Spartans (29-6) at 7:09 p.m. ET Friday (CBS).

Meanwhile, third-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his No. 1 seed Blue Devils (33-3) are gearing up to face former archrival Caleb Love and the No. 4 seed Arizona Wildcats (24-12) at 9:39 p.m. ET Thursday (CBS).

Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI 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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