Duke

Duke’s Amile Jefferson officially granted a fifth year

By Laura Keeley

lkeeley@newsobserver.com
Duke forward Amile Jefferson is all smiles on the bench as the Blue Devils pull ahead and defeat the Wolfpack 88-78 at the PNC Arena on January 23. Jefferson was not wearing the boot on his injured foot at the game.
Duke forward Amile Jefferson is all smiles on the bench as the Blue Devils pull ahead and defeat the Wolfpack 88-78 at the PNC Arena on January 23. Jefferson was not wearing the boot on his injured foot at the game. Chuck Liddy cliddy@newsobserver.com

Duke forward Amile Jefferson’s request for a medical hardship waiver was officially approved by the ACC, the school announced Friday. This will allow Jefferson, a rising fifth-year senior, to play in the 2016-17 season.

Jefferson played just nine games last season before fracturing his right foot while diving for a loose ball in Duke’s Dec. 12 practice. In that short span, he averaged 11.4 points and 10.3 rebounds.

The Blue Devils will likely open the year as the preseason No. 1 team. Jefferson fills perhaps the only void on the roster: frontcourt experience. Jefferson will anchor that unit along with the top recruit of the 2016 recruiting class, Harry Giles.

Duke will be especially loaded on the perimeter, with Grayson Allen, Matt Jones and Luke Kennard returning, along with incoming recruits Frank Jackson and Jayson Tatum.

The Blue Devils are still pursuing five-star center Marques Bolden for its 2016 recruiting class.

This story was originally published April 22, 2016 at 12:15 PM with the headline "Duke’s Amile Jefferson officially granted a fifth year."

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