The Duke University Blue Devils’ men’s basketball newcomers, Jared McCain, Caleb Foster, Sean Stewart and TJ Power, have expressed their excitement for the upcoming 2023-24 season and are showcasing their already existing bond as teammates.
“We’re just doing what we love,” Power said on an episode of The Brotherhood Podcast, according to Sports Illustrated. “At a place like Duke, it’s really all you can dream about as a basketball player. For me, it’s cool to be surrounded by a bunch of people who are so like-minded and driven.”
“That’s a cool feeling, looking to your left, looking to your right, and seeing kids that are willing to go the extra mile just as much as you,” he added.
McCain agreed, saying he already loves being at Duke.
“I really love this place. I’m not just saying that because everybody is here. It’s just like great vibes here,” he said.
“Summer was a 10 out of 10,” Stewart added while Foster corrected him. “Summer was a 12 out of 10.”
McCain has already found success on TikTok, with 2 million followers. The 19-year-old shares updates about his life and participates in social media challenges with his teammates.
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The California native has already amassed NIL deals and was named boys’ basketball player of the year by the Los Angeles Times. He averaged 18 points, seven rebounds, and four assists a game while participating in the Southern Section Open Division Championship.
“The pressure is always going to be there,” he told the Los Angeles Times recently. “You just have to minimize it as much as you can by trusting your work. I feel like the work I put in shows, and that’s what I really had to lock into my mind.”
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Caleb Foster joined the team after graduating from Notre Dame High School in California. Originally from North Carolina, Foster averaged 21.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game in his senior year, according to The Duke Chronicle.
“No guard in the country put up better numbers than Foster did in the month of July with over 25 points and nearly five assists per game,” director of scouting Adam Finkelstein wrote in his 2022 report. “He has terrific balance and a versatile attack that allows him to be a multilevel threat while still playing within the flow of the game.”
According to ESPN, the 19-year-old received offers from the University of Illinois, the University of Louisville, Stanford University, the University of Texas and Wake Forest University before settling on Duke.
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For Sean Stewart, basketball is a family tradition. His father, Mike, was in the NBA for eight years, while his grandfather was named WCC Player of the Year in 1972 while playing at Santa Clara, according to Duke.
“He always gives good advice,” Stewart told BVM Sports about his father. “We’re always talking about basketball 24/7. Even my mom. It’s really fun to be around. Everybody loves basketball so much in our household.”
Stewart completed his senior year at Montverde High School, averaging 20.5 points and 13.6 rebounds a year prior. The Florida native initially committed to Duke in Dec. 2021. He also received offers from Michigan, Georgetown and Ohio State.
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Massachusetts native TJ Power is making his childhood dream come true by joining the Blue Devils.
“Ever since I was little, I wanted to play on the biggest stage in college, and Duke is the biggest stage,” he said during his announcement ceremony, according to The Athletic. “What’s great about my experience is I didn’t have to sacrifice anything as far as fit or relationship. I think the way Coach Scheyer wants to play, and the way he’s making these classes and his team really fits my game.”
The 19-year-old was named 2021-22 Gatorade Player of the Year and has averaged 23.7 points and eight rebounds per game on 42% shooting during the Nike EYBL IV Session in Kansas City, according to On3.
Freshmen 4⃣ pic.twitter.com/ERkBLNWR9r
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) September 18, 2023
The freshman four will debut on the court on Oct. 20 during Duke’s Countdown to Craziness. They will also host UNC Pembroke for an exhibition game on Nov. 1 before playing against Dartmouth for the season opener on Nov. 7.
