“He’s Making It Impossible to Ignore…” — A Forgotten Duke Player Is Forcing His Way Into the Rotation
Every summer, there’s always one name that starts to buzz unexpectedly. This year at Duke? That name is Maliq Brown.
While all eyes have been locked on the high-profile freshmen like Cameron Boozer and Dame Sarr, and returners like Isaiah Evans and Caleb Foster, it’s the veteran forward from Virginia who’s quietly been dominating practices—and the coaching staff is taking serious notice.
“He’s not flashy, he’s not loud,” one source close to the program said. “But he’s outworking everybody.”
Brown, known for his defensive IQ and toughness, transferred in without much national fanfare. But that’s starting to change quickly. Coaches have praised his versatility, his ability to guard multiple positions, and—most importantly—his unselfishness in a gym full of stars.
“Every team needs a glue guy,” a Duke assistant said. “Maliq might be more than that.”
He’s reportedly consistently winning his reps in scrimmages, locking up bigger and smaller players alike, and setting the tone on the defensive end. With so much offensive talent in Durham, it’s players like Brown who could tip the scales in March.
“He’s the kind of guy who doesn’t care about stats,” one teammate said. “But when he’s on the floor, we just play better.”
The question now? Can Jon Scheyer afford to keep him out of the starting lineup.
If summer practice is any indication, the answer is clear: he’s making it impossible to ignore.
