Simply 11 years faraway from main Duke to the 2010 NCA A Event championship as a participant, Jon Scheyer will quickly be put in place to steer the Blue Devils to nationwide prominence once more. This time, it will not be because the crew’s captain however as an alternative as this system’s twentieth coach.

The college introduced Wednesday that Scheyer has been tabbed to will substitute Mike Krzyzewski as soon as Coach Okay retires following the 2021-22 season.

“Duke College has been a central a part of my life for greater than a decade, and I couldn’t ask for a greater place to proceed my profession,” mentioned Scheyer. “That is completely humbling. First, I supply excessive gratitude to the best coach of all time whose profession is unequalled in basketball. Coach Okay has constructed the premier program in our sport due to his unwavering aggressive edge, a tireless consideration to element, a family-first method and a outstanding compassion and care of his gamers, coaches, and employees. He has set a typical that each coach at each stage ought to try to realize. … It’s an honor to name this nice establishment my alma mater, and I am deeply dedicated to furthering its educational and athletics excellence whereas persevering with the championship legacy of Duke Basketball.”

At simply 33, Scheyer is a decade youthful than the ACC’s present youngest head coach, Georgia Tech’s Josh Pastner, and he’ll turn out to be one of many youngest Division I coaches within the nation. Nevertheless, a take a look at again on the final 15 years of Scheyer’s taking part in and training profession illustrate why Krzyzewski is likely to be comfy handing the reins of an illustrious program to somebody so younger.

Scheyer is not simply Krzyzewski’s present affiliate head coach; he’s a storied former participant for the legendary coach and a blossoming recruiter who, in idea, may seamlessly transition to the pinnacle position and lead this system in a time of transition for faculty basketball.

The participant

Ranked as a four-star prospect within the Class of 2006 by the 247Sports Composite, Scheyer signed with Duke out of Glenbrook North Excessive College close to Chicago and rapidly took on a key position by beginning and averaging 12.2 factors per recreation as a freshman. He finally appeared in 144 video games throughout his school profession, which culminated with Duke’s nationwide title run in 2010.

Scheyer was the main scorer as a senior for that crew, which completed 35-5 and secured Krzyzewski’s fourth title with a 61-59 win over Butler within the nationwide championship recreation. He completed his profession with 2,077 profession factors, which ranks tenth on this system’s all-time scoring listing.

As a 6-foot-5 guard, Scheyer was identified for his 3-point capturing and nonetheless ranks fourth all-time in program historical past for each 3-point makes an attempt and makes, bBut he additionally flashed his distributing expertise as a senior by handing out 4.9 assists per recreation.

The trail again to Duke

After going undrafted in 2010, Scheyer suffered a severe damage to his proper eye whereas taking part in with the Miami Warmth in an NBA Summer season League recreation. The incident left him legally blind however didn’t derail his taking part in ambitions. Scheyer performed within the G League and abroad from 2011-13 till becoming a member of the Duke employees as a particular assistant for the 2013-14 season. He assisted in growing recreation plans, breaking down movie and in planning practices, in accordance with program archives.

“I’m extraordinarily lucky to have the ability to come again to Duke,” Scheyer mentioned on the time. “It’s a super honor to be on Coach Okay’s employees and it’s one thing I’ll cherish. I need to proceed to be taught from the complete employees and convey no matter I can to assist this system.”

The teaching rise

When Duke affiliate head coach Steve Wojciechowski left to turn out to be Marquette’s coach after the 2013-14 season, Krzyzewski promoted Jeff Capel to the position and Scheyer to fill Capel’s vacated assistant spot. 

“We’re ecstatic about Jon becoming a member of the employees,” Krzyzewski mentioned on the time. “He was one of many nice gamers to play at Duke: a nationwide champion and a captain not that far eliminated so he provides a youthful exuberance to our employees. His information of the sport is unbelievable. I believe he will likely be a terrific train and an impressive recruiter.” 

When Capel left to take the pinnacle teaching job at Pittsburgh after the 2017-18 season, Scheyer and Nate James had been promoted to affiliate head coaches, persevering with Krzyzewski’s choice of counting on his former gamers in key employees roles. 

“Nate and Jon are former captains who clearly perceive Duke and our tradition,” Krzyzewski mentioned on the time. “They’re each nationwide champions who’ve performed an integral position in our success over the previous twenty years. Nearly as good as they had been as gamers, they usually had been each glorious, they’ve been outstanding, distinguished and instinctive coaches who’ve earned this chance. With Nate and Jon assuming further tasks of their affiliate head coach roles, I’m excited concerning the make-up of our employees shifting ahead.”

James was named the coach at Austin Peay in April, clearing the runway for Scheyer because the pure successor to Krzyzewski if this system opted to rent from inside upon Krzyzewski’s retirement.

If not at Duke, it was clear that Scheyer was destined to turn out to be a head coach elsewhere sooner or later, if he wished. Although simply now approaching his mid-30s, Scheyer was rumored to be amongst Pittsburgh’s candidates in 2018 when Capel finally acquired the job. His title additionally got here up within the rumor mill throughout this yr’s teaching carousel in reference to the DePaul job.

Contemplating Scheyer’s rising fame as a prime recruiter, it is no shock that he is drawn curiosity from different packages. Among the many prospects he is helped deliver to Duke as a major recruiter are Jayson Tatum, Cam Reddish, Vernon Carey and 2021 five-star ahead Paolo Banchero, in accordance with 247Sports. He was additionally the secondary recruiter for Zion Williamson.

Scheyer can be credited with serving to develop current Duke stars resembling Tyus Jones, Luke Kennard, Frank Jackson and Grayson Allen into NBA Draft picks.