Author: Monojit Mandal
Jeremy Roach, Duke’s dynamic point guard, has decided to stay with the Blue Devils for another season. Roach declared for the NBA draft in April, but maintained his college eligibility throughout the process. On Monday, he announced his choice to the “Duke nation” and shared his joy at resuming his college career on social media.
Roach announced his NBA plans in the media, saying he was excited to receive feedback on his skills during pre-draft workouts. However, after much reflection, he decided to continue at Duke and improve his skills at university level.
Roach was the team’s second leading scorer last season, scoring 13.6 points per game. He was instrumental in Duke’s success, especially its victory in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. Despite a nagging injury to his big toe, which briefly prevented him from captaining the team, Roach demonstrated his ability throughout the club’s Final Four campaign in 2022.
Although the Blue Devils had an excellent start to the NCAA tournament, they couldn’t keep up the momentum. They beat Oral Roberts 74-51 in the first round as No. 5 seed, but failed to beat Tennessee in the second round, losing 65-52. In the game against the Volunteers, Roach scored 13 points, but made a lot of mistakes. Two days earlier, he had scored 23 points and provided three assists against the Golden Eagles.
Given his remarkable track record, Roach’s decision to remain at Duke is not surprising. He was a highly sought-after recruit, with a five-star rating and a reputation as one of the best gunslingers in the 2020 class. On May 8, 2019, he committed to Duke, turning down offers from prestigious programs such as Kentucky, North Carolina and Villanova.
Before entering college, Roach represented the United States at international events. He competed for the U.S. U-16 national team at the 2017 FIBA U-16 Americas Championship, helping the team win the gold medal. Roach also represented the United States at the 2018 FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup, where she helped her team win another gold medal.
Roach’s achievements in high school further demonstrate his potential. He led his school to the VISAA D-I State Championship as a senior, averaging 19.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game.