John Blackwell sends six-word message following Duke basketball commitment
The top-five transfer portal talent heads to Durham
John Blackwell sends six-word message following Duke basketball commitment originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Sometimes it's better late than never when it comes to making decisions.
For John Blackwell, his journey to Duke was less than conventional. After entering the transfer portal as a top-five overall talent, the former Wisconsin guard mulled over his options. There was Illinois, who came after him hard, and for good reason.
John's father, Glynn Blackwell, played for the Fighting Illini in the mid-80s, and he was pitched on being a legacy recruit. That's hard to walk away from, but Duke presented his best offer. Few get the opportunity to play in one of the best venues in college basketball, and it's something Blackwell didn't take lightly.
“Duke fans, you’re getting a dog and a competitor," Blackwell told Field of 68 after committing to the Blue Devils on Tuesday. Blackwell is coming off a banner year with the Badgers. He averaged 19.