Duke Lands Maliq Brown in CBB Transfer Portal; Spent 1st 2 Seasons With Syracuse

Syracuse transfer Maliq Brown has committed to Duke.

The incoming junior forward announced the news Saturday on Instagram.

Brown averaged 9.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in 32 appearances during his second season with Syracuse.

He earned a position in the Syracuse starting lineup in the latter half of the season thanks in part to his defensive presence, which allowed him to lead the Orange with 2.2 steals per game.

Brown shot 69.8 percent from the floor, mostly from inside the arc.

He may have caught the eyes of Duke leadership during a Jan. 2 contest between the Orange and Blue Devils. Syracuse lost, but Brown racked up a season-high 26 points on 11-for-16 shooting while hauling in seven rebounds.

Brown was named to the ACC All-Defensive team after becoming the first center in ACC history to lead the conference in steals per game.

At Duke he could be expected to fill in for forward Mark Mitchell, who recently announced his commitment to Missouri after entering the transfer portal.

Mitchell was a key part of Duke’s defense last season. Opponents shot 45 percent when he was on the floor, but 48 percent with him on the bench, according to Adam Finkelstein of 247Sports.

Brown could now take over that defensive responsibility at Duke. Head coach Jon Scheyer will also hope his steals can help get the ball to incoming freshman Cooper Flagg, the consensus top player of the 2024 recruiting class.

His arrival in Durham marks the continuation of major turnover for the Blue Devils following their exit from the Elite Eight in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

Nine players have since left the team, including seven through the transfer portal, according to Rodd Baxley of the Fayetteville Observer.

Scheyer will now look to build almost an entirely new squad around Flagg as the Blue Devils hope to return to the NCAA Tournament for a fourth straight season.