Duke freshman Jalen Johnson opts out of remainder of men’s college basketball season
DURHAM, N.C. — Duke freshman Jalen Johnson has opted out of the rest of the season and will ready for the 2021 NBA draft, the school announced Monday night.
“I appreciate everything about my time at Duke,” Johnson said in a statement. “Coach K, my teammates and the program have been nothing but supportive throughout this season, especially during the rehab of my foot injury.
“My family, Coach and I have made the decision that I should not play the remainder of this season so I can be 100% healthy in preparation for the NBA draft. This was not easy but we feel it’s best for my future.”
Johnson arrived on campus in August as the No. 13-ranked player from the Class of 2020, per the 247 Sports composite rankings, and the heir apparent in a streak of players who spent a season chasing a national title and stuffing the stat sheet at Duke before jetting off to the NBA.
His 19-point, 19-rebound performance against Coppin State in the season opener – one of the best debuts ever for a Duke freshman – vaulted him into national prominence and made him the marquee name on the country’s most high-profile team.
But as the Blue Devils have faltered – at just 8-8 they’re at serious risk of missing the NCAA Tournament – the focus has shifted to developing the young talent that will be returning next year, a group that will be joined by a recruiting class with at least two top-10 prospects.
That build-for-the-future plan did not seem to include Johnson, who had been absent from the starting lineup the last three games and played only eight minutes while scoring three points during Saturday’s win over North Carolina State.
Johnson and Henry Coleman were the only Duke freshman to play less than 10 minutes in the rout over the Wolfpack.
“I have confidence in him,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said of Johnson after Saturday’s game. “We’re going to keep working with him and he’ll have opportunities. Today, going in another direction worked out well for us.”
That other direction has been freshman big man Mark Williams. After a non-existent start to the season, Williams has changed the dynamic of this team with his shot-blocking ability and his developing offensive ability. He had several career highs against NC State, including points (13), blocks (5) and minutes (28).
With sophomore forward Matthew Hurt continuing to be Duke’s go-to scorer, Johnson was left with a less defined role on this team.
Johnson missed three games through December and January because of a Dec. 8 foot injury. After he played four minutes in a brief return against Virginia Tech, Johnson returned in full force, scoring 24 points with 16 rebounds in 33 minutes during a Jan. 19 loss to Pitt.
He had 18 points and six rebounds when Duke beat Georgia Tech 79-68 on Jan. 26 and scored nine points Jan. 30 during the Blue Devils’ 79-53 win over Clemson, where he added eight rebounds, five assists and two steals with just one turnover in 28 minutes.
His last time in the starting lineup, a 77-75 loss to Miami, Johnson had three turnovers in the game’s first 14 minutes and never looked comfortable during the shocking defeat.
There were no clear signs that Johnson’s foot was bothering him after the Feb. 6 loss to North Carolina where he scored 14 points coming off the bench.
But last week, Coach K told media that Johnson had received a precautionary MRI the night before and that if not treated properly, the injury could be “a major factor in his career.”
Johnson played 15 minutes the next day in a loss to Notre Dame and sat on the bench for most of the game against NC State.
“While we are encouraged by what we are seeing medically, for Jalen’s future, we believe this decision is in his best interest,” Coach K said of Johnson’s opt-out in a statement.
Duke (8-8, 6-6 ACC) has six regular-season games remaining and probably needs to win them all, particularly Saturday’s home game against No. 8 Virginia, to make the NCAA Tournament without winning the ACC tournament.
The Blue Devils will have to do it without Johnson.
