iStock_000083515123_Full.jpg

BASKETBALL

Grayson Allen Is A Captain Again For Duke

A season ago Grayson Allen was stripped of his captain capacity. 

This season however senior Grayson Allen is getting his one last shot as he has been named the lone captain of this years team that will be fairly young that includes eight freshmen, four sophomores, and two juniors.

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski hinted at it for much of the offseason, and now it appears to be official—Grayson Allen is a captain again. "according to http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2017/10/report-grayson-allen-named-lone-captain-for-duke-mens-basketball

Seth Davis of The Athletic reported in a profile of Allen that Krzyzewski named the senior guard the lone captain of his 2017-18 Blue Devils. The team has not confirmed the news. Allen was initially a team captain last year along with Amile Jefferson and Matt Jones, but he lost the honor after tripping Elon's Steven Santa Ana Dec. 21, resulting in a flagrant foul and a one-game suspension. "according to http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2017/10/report-grayson-allen-named-lone-captain-for-duke-mens-basketball

Allen will be Duke's first solo captain since DeMarcus Nelson held the title alone for the 2007-08 team 10 years ago. As the Blue Devils' lone senior and only player on the entire roster that has played significant minutes in college, Allen was a clear choice to lead a team with six freshmen and three sophomores. "according to http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2017/10/report-grayson-allen-named-lone-captain-for-duke-mens-basketball

The Jacksonville, Fla., native is the only active Duke player that was on the 2015 national championship team when he played a major role in the title-game win against Wisconsin, and he had a breakthrough season a year later with 21.6 points per game as a sophomore. "according to http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2017/10/report-grayson-allen-named-lone-captain-for-duke-mens-basketball

Allen hoped to graduate a year early in preparation for a jump to the NBA when he elected to return for his junior season, but those plans changed when toe and ankle injuries and the tripping controversy impeded his progress. His shooting percentages dropped across the board and his scoring average fell to 14.5 points per game. "according to http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2017/10/report-grayson-allen-named-lone-captain-for-duke-mens-basketball

Davis' in-depth story details Allen's decision to return for his senior year and says Krzyzewski instructed him to stay away from basketball for three months during the summer to rediscover his love for the game and get healthy physically. The Athletic is a subscription-based sports website that launched its national college basketball coverage this morning. "according to http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2017/10/report-grayson-allen-named-lone-captain-for-duke-mens-basketball

After offseason surgery to clean out his ankle, Allen is healthy and ready for one more run as a captain that the Blue Devils hope will be smoother than last year. "according to http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2017/10/report-grayson-allen-named-lone-captain-for-duke-mens-basketball