Grayson Allen bypasses NBA Draft, returning to Duke for junior season

Grayson Allen told Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski that he will return for his junior season after considering entering the NBA Draft.

According to Erin Summers of Time Warner Sports, Duke Blue Devils sophomore guard Grayson Allen has informed head coach Mike Krzyzewski that he will return to Duke for his junior season in 2016-17 to continue working on completing his undergraduate degree. Allen will play in the NBA one day, but believes that at least one more year at Duke is ultimately in his best interest at this time.

Allen added, “I love Duke and I’ve made relationships with my teammates that will last forever. Coming back next season to play with them is important to me. Earning a Duke degree has always been a dream of mine, so I’ll also be working to get closer to that goal.”

In two years at Duke, Allen has already won a National Championship as a true freshman in 2015 and made it to another Sweet Sixteen as a true sophomore. His playing time increased under Krzyzewski in 2015-16, playing 36.6 minutes per game, averaging 21.6 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game, and 3.5 assists per game.

While Allen achieved a strong PER as a sophomore of 26.1 and had a .466/.417/.837 shooting split as a sophomore, he does have to improve defensively to become a strong rotational player in the NBA. Allen’s defensive metrics were fair in 2015-16 (107.6 DRTG, 1.2 defensive win shares), but that probably won’t hold up in the NBA as a 21-year-old rookie.

Entering 2016-17, Allen is now undoubtedly the face of the Duke Men’s Basketball program as a major maker and shaker in the ACC, probably contending for yet another trip to the Final Four and a sixth National Championship of the Coach K era in Durham. Having Allen stay is a huge boost for Duke basketball entering next season.

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