Drew Scharnowski was on crutches, right leg in a black sleeve, when Duke dropped their 5-on-5 practice video Friday. Immediately, everyone’s thoughts went to the big man’s health, hoping it’s nothing serious for him and that he’s back on the court super soon. That’s a gut punch, man, seeing any player sidelined, especially this early in the season cycle.
Crutches and a 7-foot-1 Opportunity
So, with Scharnowski out, you know who instantly got more run? Freshman Maxime Meyer. And let me tell you, this dude is a legit 7-foot-1 force. Yeah, he’s got work to do, that’s a given for any freshman, but when you start with that kind of height and mobility, the future is looking incredibly bright. Talk about an unexpected chance to shine, right? Even without Scharnowski’s power out there, what was screaming obvious from the jump is just how deep and talented this Duke roster is. Like, seriously deep. The freshmen are already proving to be way better than anyone expected, and the guys who are back? They didn’t just chill all summer, they seriously grew their games.
Dame Sarr’s Confidence Is Off the Charts and This Roster Is Loaded
You gotta look at Dame Sarr. Last season, the guy struggled to finish on breaks. But in this video? Gone. That problem was absolutely gone. He was strikingly confident, powering through those breaks like it was nothing. And that look-away pass he threw? Money. We don’t necessarily think he’ll be asked to run point all the time, but he showed he could definitely put in some serious time there if needed. Then there’s Joaquim Boumjte Boumtje. The dude looked incredibly comfortable on the floor, battling against a stacked group including Cameron Williams, Pat Ngongba, Scharnowski, and Meyer. He’s more than holding his own, which says a ton about his game. And Cayden Boozer? He goes down hard under the basket at full speed, right? And what happens? He pops right back up like it’s nothing. That tells you everything you need to know about the work he put in over the summer.
Look, this was just a scrimmage, but the promising things popping off that video are impossible to ignore. This team, man, they are going to be a load for everyone in college basketball. If you’ve got a few minutes, seriously, go watch that video. You won’t regret it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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