GOOD NEWS: Jon Scheyer Confirmed Another Versatile Veteran Guard Transfers to Duke

Duke men’s basketball coach Jon Scheyer confirmed Sion James’ addition to the Blue Devils’ 2024 recruiting class on Monday.

James, a 6-6, 220-pound guard from Sugar Hill, Georgia, is transferring to Duke after four seasons at Tulane. He appeared in 114 career games, including 107 starts, averaging more than 34 minutes per game and totaling 1,084 points (9.5 ppg), 520 rebounds (4.6 rpg), 337 assists (3.0 apg), and 187 steals (1.6 spg)…..

James improved his scoring and rebounding totals each season with the Green Wave, averaging 14.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.6 steals per game in 2023-24, while swatting 23 shots and shooting 51.4% from the field and 38.1% from three.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Sion James to The Brotherhood,” stated Scheyer. “He’s an experienced leader with a high IQ and an excellent feel for the game. Bringing Sion to Duke is more than just bringing talent; it is also about contributing to his competitiveness and winning spirit. His versatility as a defender is a significant skill, and his ability to improve others on attack will help our squad. Sion will have a significant influence both on and off the court, and I am excited to begin working with him and the rest of our staff.”

This past season, the graduate transfer scored 20 points six times, including a 28-point double-double against North Texas in the second round of the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament. During his third season with the Green Wave in 2022-23, James recorded career highs of 30 points and seven steals in a win against Memphis, and he established the Tulane record for most blocks in an AAC tournament game with six against Wichita State.

James became the first player to receive the AAC Sportsmanship Award twice, in 2023 and 2024. He also served as chair of the AAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee on two occasions.

Prior to Tulane, James was a three-star recruit out of Lanier High School, where he was twice named Region 8A Player of the Year. He led Lanier to consecutive regional championships and a state championship game appearance as a senior in 2020.

James joins fellow four-star transfers Maliq Brown (6-8, F, Culpeper, Va./Blue Ridge HS/Syracuse) and Mason Gillis (6-6, F, New Castle, Ind./New Castle HS/Purdue), as well as five-star prospects Cooper Flagg (6-9, F, Newport, Maine/Montverde Academy), Isaiah Evans (6-6, G/F, Huntersville, N.C./North Mecklenburg HS), Kon Knueppel (6-6, G/F, Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran HS), Patrick N