As the basketball offseason continues, the Blue Zone is here to analyze footage from the new additions to the men’s and women’s teams. On the men’s side, we’ve already looked at Kon Knüppel, Patrick Ngongba II, Isaiah Evans, Khaman Maluach, Cooper Flagg, Maliq Brown, Mason Gillis, Darren Harris And Zion JamesNext up is transfer Cameron Sheffield:
The final addition to the Duke basketball team this offseason, Cameron Sheffield completes the roster that head coach Jon Scheyer has assembled for his third year at the helm. The Alpharetta, Georgia native comes to Durham from Rice, where he played three seasons before missing the entire 2023-24 season due to injury.
Although he is surprisingly one of the smallest sizes on this year’s roster at 6’6″, Sheffield has shown a penchant for playing near the basket, averaging 6.1 rebounds in 2022-23. Additionally, he is a more than serviceable shooter, shooting 37.3% from the three-point line in his final season with the Owls.
While he’s not expected to be one of the players getting a lot of playing time this year, the senior can still provide solid minutes when his name is called and will add veteran experience to a team that features six freshmen.
Sheffield most likely won’t be the primary target of an opponent’s defensive strategy, which gives him the opportunity to see himself completely free from behind the arc at times, especially when teams are pitted against one of the Blue Devils’ top scorers. The Chattahoochee High School product has proven to be more than capable of capitalizing on those opportunities, even in big games. Watch him sink an open three-pointer against UAB in the AAC Tournament:
In addition to his impressive three-point shooting ability, Sheffield can also use his frame and athleticism to get to the basket. In his last injury-free season, he shot a personal best 43% from the field, showing an evolution in his offensive game. Watch him get past a defender on the perimeter and finish strong to the basket here:
The senior can also make an impact on defense, as his stature allows him to disrupt passing lanes and steal balls that lead to layups. Watch him take advantage of a bad pass and steal a ball for an easy layup:
Sheffield probably won’t be on the court for every game, but he’s proven throughout his career that he’s a more than viable plug-and-play option on the wing. At the very least, he’ll be another weapon for Scheyer to use at any time as Duke seeks its sixth national title.
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