Your cart is currently empty!
Two Duke Basketball One-And-Dones Land Rising Stars Honor
Former Duke basketball standouts Jared McCain and Dereck Lively II are in the 2025 Rising Stars player pool that the NBA announced on Tuesday. However, neither the Philadelphia 76ers rookie guard nor the Dallas Mavericks sophomore center will be on the court for the four-team tournament in the Golden State Warriors’ Chase Center on Feb. 14.
ALSO READ: Update on Duke Forward Maliq Brown’s Recovery From Injury
Even so, the fact they are among the 28 Rising Stars selections, consisting of 10 rookies, 10 sophomores, and seven G League talents, is a significant honor in itself.
2025 NBA Rising Stars rosters released: pic.twitter.com/0e7Bb7CbW4
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 28, 2025
McCain, who came off the board No. 16 overall at the 2024 NBA Draft following his sensational Duke basketball campaign, underwent surgery for a left lateral meniscus tear that he sustained in mid-December. Prior to the season-ending injury, the 20-year-old California native averaged 15.3 points, 2.6 assists, and 2.4 assists across 23 appearances, shooting 38.3 percent beyond the arc.
Despite being out of commission for roughly six weeks, McCain continues to lead all rookies with his eight 20-point performances and two 30-point efforts.
Meanwhile, Lively, who was part of the Rising Stars event as a rookie last year, has been sidelined the past two weeks while recovering from a stress fracture in his right ankle. The 20-year-old from Pennsylvania, a former lottery pick, will likely be out until the playoffs.
Through 32 outings this season, Lively is averaging 9.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.7 blocks.
ALSO READ: Jon Scheyer Explains Cause of Duke Center Puking on Court
Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball news.
Duke University has a reputation for producing top-tier basketball talent, and two former Blue Devils who entered the NBA as one-and-done players are continuing to make waves in the professional basketball world.
Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett, both former Duke standouts, have been named Rising Stars by the NBA for their exceptional play in the early stages of their careers. Williamson, the number one overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, has quickly become one of the most electrifying players in the league with his combination of size, athleticism, and skill. Barrett, the third overall pick in the same draft, has shown flashes of brilliance as a versatile scorer and playmaker for the New York Knicks.
Both players spent just one season at Duke before making the leap to the NBA, but their impact on the college basketball world was undeniable. Now, they are proving that they have what it takes to compete at the highest level of professional basketball.
As Duke continues to produce top-tier talent year after year, it’s clear that Williamson and Barrett are just the latest in a long line of Blue Devils who have what it takes to succeed in the NBA. Keep an eye on these rising stars as they continue to make their mark on the basketball world.
Tags:
Duke basketball, one-and-dones, rising stars, college basketball, NBA prospects, Duke Blue Devils, basketball talent, future NBA stars, basketball awards, college sports talent
#Duke #Basketball #OneAndDones #Land #Rising #Stars #Honor
Leave a Reply