Every offseason has its surprises — but what’s unfolding inside Duke’s summer practices wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card. A player once seen as a “glue guy” has started making starter-level noise. And now? The staff can’t ignore it.
That player is Maliq Brown.
The senior forward from Culpeper, Virginia, came into the summer under the radar. While the hype swirled around freshmen like Cameron Boozer and Dame Sarr, it was Brown’s physicality, communication, and consistency that began to turn heads. Insiders say he’s been a tone-setter in practice — diving for loose balls, boxing out harder than anyone, and playing with an edge that’s impossible to miss.
And he’s not just holding his own against the younger talent — he’s setting the bar. In recent closed scrimmages, Brown has been paired with Patrick Ngongba II in the frontcourt, forming a rugged, defensive-minded tandem that’s begun to outplay some of the more hyped combinations. One coach reportedly called Brown “the most reliable voice in the gym.”
Meanwhile, guys like Isaiah Evans and Caleb Foster are still flashing star power on the perimeter, but even they’ve started leaning on Brown to anchor possessions. During one session, Brown’s vocal leadership reportedly shifted the energy of the entire unit — a rare trait that’s separating him in a program built on elite talent.
With Cameron Boozer adjusting to the pace and physicality of the college game and Nikolas Khamenia still building confidence in Scheyer’s system, the door is wide open — and Brown is barging through it.
Is he flashy? No. But is he earning trust in the one place that matters — behind closed doors in practice? Absolutely. And that’s why whispers around Durham are growing louder: Maliq Brown might not just be in the rotation… he might start.
