MusaThere’s buzz in Durham, and it’s not just the sound of sneakers squeaking on hardwood—it’s the sound of jaws dropping. Duke’s newest freshman phenom, barely a week into his college career, has already turned the basketball world on its head. And no, we’re not talking about highlight-reel dunks (though he’s got those too). What happened at a closed-door practice this week has Blue Devils insiders whispering one word: “special.”
At 6’7” with a wingspan that seems to stretch to midcourt, the freshman arrived with a four-star label and modest expectations. But in the span of a single practice, he shredded the scouting report and redrew his own ceiling. According to one assistant coach, the kid “was seeing the game two steps ahead,” calling out defensive switches before they happened, threading passes with veteran precision, and—perhaps most jaw-dropping—blocking a center’s shot with such perfect timing that the gym literally went silent.
“He’s not just athletic,” said a source close to the team. “He’s a thinker. A floor general. And he’s still learning.”
The whispers got louder after he reportedly went toe-to-toe with one of Duke’s returning stars in a scrimmage—scoring, dishing, and defending like a seasoned pro. Head coach Jon Scheyer hasn’t said much publicly, but word is he’s already considering a shift in the lineup to give the young star more floor time. In June.
And here’s the kicker: the phenom is humble. After practice, he spent 20 minutes rebounding for teammates. No cameras. No crowd. Just work.
It’s early days, but the signs are hard to ignore. Duke fans might’ve thought they were getting a project—what they got instead might be the next face of the program. Coaches are whispering now. The rest of the NCAA? They’ll be shouting soon enough.
John Owolabi
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Musa
