Duke Senior Is Transferring: College Basketball World Reacts
Duke basketball senior Joey Baker has entered the transfer portal, the Blue Devils system declared on Wednesday.
Baker just completed his fourth year in Durham and has one particular calendar year of remaining eligibility because of to the 2020-21 COVID-19 season.
“It has been an absolute satisfaction obtaining Joey in our application… He’s been a joy to mentor & a good chief… I’m thrilled he’ll be earning a degree from a single of the terrific establishments in the earth & I would like him all the ideal…” Mentor K mentioned in an formal statement.
“Nothing at all but enjoy Duke nation,” Baker wrote.
This information comes as considerably of a shock to all those about the college basketball world. Back again in April, Duke declared that Baker would be returning for Yr 5 following undergoing postseason hip operation.
Followers took to Twitter to respond to this transfer information.
“This is the best shift for him. I’m so unfortunate we never received to see Joey keep a important function at Duke, but I want him very little but the greatest somewhere else. With any luck , he can find a great suit and make straight away someplace,” 1 fan wrote.
“Best of luck to Joey at his future stop. Hope he balls out where ever he lands,” a further Duke lover account wrote.
Baker arrived at Duke as a extremely-touted four-star recruit in the 2018 class. Regretably for the gifted youthful modest ahead, his collegiate occupation in Durham did not particularly pan out as prepared.
Baker averaged just 4.1 details and 11.5 minutes for each video game through his four seasons with the Blue Devils. Mentor K infamously burned his redshirt by actively playing him in a fourth game throughout the closing stretch of his freshman season.
Baker, the team’s only genuine senior this previous season, failed to participate in a one moment on his senior night time — Coach K’s remaining game at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Several supporters referenced this in response to Baker’s transfer choice.
“Feels a minimal unusual now that Duke did not honor him on Senior Evening,” just one wrote.
Duke’s 1st group of the Jon Scheyer period will seem really diverse in contrast to final year’s.
In addition to the reduction of Baker, the Blue Devils are also getting rid of 5 critical players to the NBA draft.