By ADAM ZAGORIA
Junior guard Jeremy Roach announced he will withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to Duke, making the Blue Devils instant contenders for their sixth NCAA championship in 2024.
“They will be in the mix for the No.1 spot in the early preseason polls,” ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla told ZAGSBLOG.
The 6-foot-2 guard averaged 13.6 points and 3.1 assists last season when he was the team’s emotional leader in coach Jon Scheyer’s first season.
“Jeremy Roach is cut from the same cloth as fellow Duke upperclassmen point guards, Nolan Smith and Quinn Cook, in the past,” Fraschilla told ZAGSBLOG. “He’s an excellent security blanket for Coach Scheyer and another very talented, young Duke team.”
ESPN’s Jay Bilas told ZAGSBLOG: “Roach returning means greater roster continuity and leadership for the Duke program. Roach’s return makes Duke better.”
Duke already announced the return of 7-foot freshman Kyle Filipowski, a projected top-20 NBA Draft pick. The ACC Rookie of the Year, Filipowski recently underwent arthroscopic surgery on both of his hips. With the return of both Filipowski and Roach, Duke will likely be AP’s No. 1 team preseason. The Blue Devils also return Tyrese Proctor, Mark Mitchell, Ryan Young, Jaden Schutt, Jaylen Blakes and Christian Reeves from last year’s squad. Additionally, four five-star 2023 prospects — Caleb Foster, Jared McCain, Sean Stewart and TJ Power — will join the roster. Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram And Like ZAGS on FacebookDuke is now absolutely stacked with the return of Jeremy Roach and a serious Final Four and national championship contender https://t.co/Bqc4mnk95y
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) May 15, 2023
