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Duke Basketball Giving Headaches to Former Blue Devil Player

Originally posted on Duke Blue Devils on SI
By Matt Giles | Last updated Feb 15, 2025 4:59 PM ET

Jaylen Blakes, a former three-year Duke basketball guard and graduate before transferring to Stanford for his final college campaign, entered his return to Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday averaging a career-high 14.5 points per game, over seven times higher than what he posted for the 2023-24 Blue Devils.

But in the first half against the No. 3-ranked Blue Devils (21-3, 13-1 ACC), Blakes and the Cardinal (16-9, 8-6 ACC) struggled to the tune of 49-34 halftime deficit.

the board in traffic --> the read --> the finish

@Cooper_Flagg

Part of a 14-3 run pic.twitter.com/MXZIIXtXPC
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) February 15, 2025

And Blakes, now a 21-year-old guard four weeks removed from playing the role of hero in defeating the UNC Tar Heels in his return to Chapel Hill, finished 0-for-5 from the field in the first half against the Blue Devils. Across 17 minutes, he tallied zero points, one rebound, one assist, and two turnovers.

Duke junior guard Tyrese Proctor, a former two-year teammate to Blakes who is on a tear of late, led all scorers with 17 points at the half. The Blue Devils shot 58.1 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes of action, including a 7-for-16 clip beyond the arc.

Following the bout against Stanford, Duke basketball will gear up for a road contest versus the Virginia Cavaliers (13-12, 6-8 ACC) at 8 p.m. ET Monday (ESPN).

This article first appeared on Duke Blue Devils on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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