Duke Men’s Basketball Lands Elite Scorer Sion James

The Blue Devils have bolstered their roster with the addition of Sion James, a 6-foot-6 guard from Tulane. James, who announced his decision via Instagram, is the third player to join Duke’s team through the transfer portal this cycle, along with forwards Maliq Brown and Mason Gillis.

A Scoring Machine

James is an elite scorer who can produce from all three levels of the court. With a quick first step and a smooth jump shot, he is a threat who can really space the floor. While a lot of his shooting has been off the catch, James is a capable ball handler and effective in the pick-and-roll.

James is a threat from anywhere on the court.

The Sugar Hill, Ga., native steadily increased his output in his four years with the Green Wave, scoring 14 points per game last season. His shooting splits also have improved, as he shot above 50% from the field and 38.1% from deep.

More Than Just a Scorer

While James will need to adjust to the higher level of competition, he has the natural scoring ability that will ignite the Blue Devils next year. He also was second on his team in rebounding with 5.4 boards as well.

James is a threat on the glass as well.

A Leader On and Off the Court

In addition to his basketball skill, James is very well respected within the Tulane community and American Athletic Conference. He was the first player to win the league’s Sportsmanship Award two years in a row, and he chairs the AAC’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

James is a leader on and off the court.

What This Means for Duke

With James joining the Blue Devils, head coach Jon Scheyer has bolstered his team’s veteran presence through the transfer portal. James’ scoring ability and rebounding prowess will be a welcome addition to the team.

James will be a key player for the Blue Devils next season.