Duke has one of the most talented freshmen – scratch that, players, regardless of age – in the country this season. Marvin Bagley III, a 6-11 forward from Phoenix, Ariz., reclassified to the class of 2017 and committed to the Blue Devils in mid-August before the start of the school year.
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Through Duke's first eight games, Bagley is averaging 22.3 points and 11.3 rebounds per game on 59 percent shooting. He has six double-doubles, including back-to-back 34-point, 15-rebound and 30-point, 15-rebound performances in the top-ranked Blue Devils' most recent wins against Texas and Florida in the PK80.
As of Monday afternoon, college basketball advanced stats guru Ken Pomeroy ranked Bagley fourth in his national player of the year standings. He's among the nation's elite at rebounding the ball at both ends of the floor and he's adept at drawing fouls. For every two field goals he has attempted this season, he has taken one free throw, making him an efficient offensive weapon.
The only game this season in which Bagley didn't stuff the stat sheet came in the Champions Classic, when he left Duke's game against Michigan State with an eye injury after playing just 10 minutes, but he still managed to score four points and grab six rebounds in his time on the floor.
Bagley averaged 25.8 points, 14.9 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game on the Nike EYBL circuit in 2017. He led Sierra Canyon (Calif.) to a 27-3 record, then earned 2017 Gatorade California Player of the Year and USA Today All-USA first team honors.
