The Duke Chronicle has unveiled its latest player profile, this time focusing on Purdue transfer Mason Gillis. This addition brings significant experience and sharpshooting to the Duke Blue Devils.
Before diving into Gillis’s profile, it’s worth noting an interesting pattern in the Chronicle’s coverage. They have highlighted five freshmen and now two transfers but have yet to mention the sixth freshman, Darren Harris. The reasoning behind this omission remains unclear.
Now, back to Gillis. Standing at 6’6″ and weighing 225 pounds, the 23-year-old graduate student adds a wealth of experience to Duke’s roster. Last season at Purdue, Gillis was primarily a three-point specialist off the bench. He boasted an impressive 46.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc, benefiting from the defensive attention commanded by 7’4″ Zach Edey. Over his career, Gillis maintained a commendable 40.7 percent from three-point range.
While his shooting prowess is expected to continue, his defensive capabilities are under scrutiny. At Purdue, Edey’s presence often compensated for defensive lapses. At Duke, Gillis will need to step up defensively without such a towering figure behind him.
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In summary, Mason Gillis brings elite shooting and valuable experience to Jon Scheyer’s team, making him a significant asset for Duke. If Duke reaches the Final Four next season, Gillis could become the second player to achieve this milestone with two different teams, following Bob Bender, who played for Bob Knight’s 1976 national championship team and reached the title game with Duke in 1978.
It’s a promising addition that has Duke fans eagerly anticipating the upcoming season.
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