New Duke Basketball Addition Sets Sights on Program's Next Title

The Duke basketball program has officially announced the signing of transfer guard Sion James.

Duke basketball national championship banners / Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Former four-year Tulane guard Sion James revealed his Duke basketball commitment on Friday morning. Three days later, the Blue Devils made it official by announcing his signing, including a quote from Jon Scheyer about what the program is getting in the 21-year-old Georgia native.

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"We’re thrilled to welcome Sion James to The Brotherhood," Scheyer noted. "He’s a proven leader with a high IQ and great feel for the game. Bringing Sion to Duke is not just about adding talent, it's about adding to a culture of competitiveness and winning attitude that he has. His versatility as a defender is a big strength, and his ability to make others better on offense will elevate our team.

"Sion will have a tremendous impact on and off the court, and I am anxious to get started with him and the rest of our team."

James reacted to the Duke basketball social media posts with a statement of his primary objective in becoming a Blue Devil for his extra year of eligibility: "Can't wait to head up to Durham and get number 6!!"

Can't wait to head up to Durham and get number 6!! 🏆 https://t.co/i4Q0xO1Rkq

— Sion James 🎈 (@SionJames14) May 13, 2024

The 6-foot-6, 220-pounder, an aggressive slasher and staunch defender, averaged 14.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.6 steals for the Green Wave this past season.

Exemplifying his prowess as an efficient bucket-getter, Sion James scored 30 points on only eight shot attempts in a Tulane win over Memphis on New Year's Day 2023. He finished 4-for-4 from downtown and 14-for-15 at the charity stripe in that contest, adding seven assists, six rebounds, three steals, and two blocks across his 40 minutes on the floor.

Sion James’ Top Moments @ Tulane:

#2: Beat Memphis on New Year’s Day, the day before the @CottonBowlGame, by having the first D1 30-point game on 8 or less shots in 5 years. In 40 mins, Sion had 7 AST, 6 REB, 3 STL, 2 BLK, shot 4-4 3-PT, & made 14-15 FT. (01/01/23) #RollWave🌊 https://t.co/QIxaMLWR57

— Isaac Popper 🟦 (@ipopStats) May 11, 2024

Sion James is now the third Duke basketball transfer signee this offseason, joining former Syracuse forward Maliq Brown and Purdue forward Mason Gillis.

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Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI for more Duke basketball news.