I got a bunch of questions and Q so we'll start moving around. We'll start with Steve Weissman. Steve, go ahead with Jalen. Nice bike. Hey, Jalen. Good morning. How are you? I'm good. How are you doing today? I'm Steve Weissman. I covered Duke for the rally in the Durham Newspapers. That news observer in the Herald Sun. So nice to meet you. Virtually nice to meet you as well. Welcome to North Carolina. Wanted to ask you about. First of all, how do you see your game fitting in with with Matt Hurt when you are on the court at the same time? You guys both could play inside out. What's it been like playing with him? And how do you see your role working alongside him? No, playing with Matt heard so far has been great. Uh, makes the game so much easier. Just, uh He's also another versatile big men, like, kind of like myself. We could do a whole bunch of things on the court. So being on the court with him at the same time, uh, it's just really fun. Uh, we complement each other's games pretty well. Uh, we know each other. It's hot. So I think I think we played very well together. Thank you. All right, we'll go. Thio. Brennan marks next. Go ahead, Brendan. Hey, John. Good morning. You're doing okay. Yes, sir. My name is Brendan Marks. I covered Duke and UNC basketball for the athletic. Um, welcome, North Carolina. Just like Steve set. I'm curious. A lot of the coaches have really praised your passing ability on the past couple of zooms that we've had. I'm just curious. How did you develop that passed first mindset over the past couple of leaders? And would you say that you're more of, ah, past first sort of guys compared toa? You know, I think some people just assume because of the size and strength that you have that you'll be ableto to score it. Well, yes. Uh, I wouldn't necessarily call myself a pass first guy. Uh, some I love to do, though for sure. Uh, just kind of growing up. I really wasn't always this tall, The taller guy. I was tall, but just kind of being able to have those guards skills that my dad always taught us early on. And, uh, in our early ages, just having those guards skills and guard visions. Just being able to have that type of stuff will be able to help me down the long run. What is it that you like so much about? Passing is it is just the satisfaction of seeing your teammate get a bucket on, then. Yeah, I think that's the best feeling about it. Seeing your teammate went to Gotcha. Thank you so much. Yeah. All right, we'll goto Jasmine frets next. Go ahead, Jasmine. Hey, Jalen. I'm Jasmine Fritz with Buzz Sports radio in Raleigh. Can you tell me, like how familiar you were with Duke basketball prior to being recruited? I know both of your parents play basketball. So was it something like they kind of told you about, or how did you guess? Familiarize yourself. Well, yeah, Just I've grown up watching college basketball, and Duke has always been Duke. You just see all the players they've had in the past. Uh, Duke's always kind of set itself apart from every other school as far as me. Just watching up, growing up, watching college basketball. Eso Yeah. Okay. And then what have some of the older guys are? The returning players said to you about playing at Duke and what to expect and anything ast faras the rivalry with North Carolina. Uh, nothing too much about that rivalry with North Carolina yet. Uh, it's gonna be much different with without fans this year. So I guess we're all kind of just waiting to see how that robbery works out. So yeah. Thank you. This man. All right, Jim Sumner, go ahead telling Good morning, Jeff Summoner. Alright. For Duke basketball for it. And go Duke, the magazine. It looks like you bought from Wisconsin weather down with you. Um, you can t piggybacking on the other question. When we talked to your teammates, your coaches the first word out of their mouth, it's something like versatile or versatility. You check a lot of boxes as Jasmine mentioned you come from a basketball family. How did that versatility develop? I assume you learn part of that from your parents. But how did that part of your game evolve and development? And how does it help you? And how does that help your help? Your team? I think, honestly, my versatility, uh, it's just gonna open up so much more for ah, the great scores. A great three point shooters we got on our team right now. Uh, my versatility. Like I said, just open up so many opportunities and options on the floor helps me create for others and myself because I think my versatility, uh, not many people expect me toe do some of the things I'm capable of doing. So I think it catches some teams. Uh, it'll catch some teams off balance off guard. Uh, so yeah, and that versatility is also on the other end of what you can guard a lot of different positions of different positions. Can talk about that a little bit. Yeah, Like I said, going up I was I wasn't always the tallest on my team, so just I was used to guarding guards and then 10th grade summer came around and I grew to 68 6768 So it was It was kind of like a shock for me. I'm getting I'm still kind of in a way of getting used to my body. I used to getting used to how tall I really am and how strong I am. So I think that's gonna be definitely an advantage for me guarding, uh, one through five. This year in the first part of the question about what you learn from from your parents come to basketball. Yeah, well, I know my dad always tells people, uh, he was stuck in the post as a 66 big man. Really? And that's something didn't want for his kids. So I remember our first basketball drawer, full court ball handling. So just kind of being that have those guard skills like I mentioned earlier, uh, with something he always preached on. And, uh, he didn't want us being stuck in the post at 68 Or however it's all we ended up being. Thanks, sir. All right, we'll go to Evan Kohlmann. Next. Go ahead of Nice to meet you. Evan Kohlmann from the Chronicle s. So you had a little bit of a tumultuous senior season where you transferred from Nikola toe. I m g got hurt a little bit, I believe, and then transferred back. So I was just wondering if you could talk a little bit in your own words about that senior campaign and have a quick follow up right after. I'm not gonna get too much into the senior campaign. Uh, it was definitely something that was unexpected. The injury that came about cause a lot of emotions with me myself on personally, uh, going through that. So it was definitely a rough senior campaign, But I'm just looking forward. Toa starting fresh this year and then a quick follow up you were when you committed, you were the number four recruit in the country. And then because you didn't play a lot last year, you fell out of the top 10 you've been quoted about. You know, many people forgot about you a little bit because you weren't on the cords. That's something that's fueling you entering this season. Yeah, definitely. Uh, but I think the biggest goal and the biggest way toe silence those critics is just winning. Uh, once when you win, people can't say much, So that's my main goal. I'm not really focused about those rankings rankings in the past, and I'm just focused on chasing six title. Appreciate it, sir. All right, Brian, horse, Go ahead. Thanks, Mike. Um, Brian Horse with duke blogger dot com. First off, congrats on your brother Kobe signing with us. See, that's awesome. Appreciate that. appreciate that. Obviously, with the pandemic going through this, your classes sort of doing something no other classes had to do had to deal with. How have you felt that your transition has gone from, you know, being in high school to coming to Duke and having to, like, be isolated from the rest of the campus and so forth? Uh, personally, I feel like it's just better for me. Overall, Uh, I think it gives myself more of opportunity to lock in. Um, just from just overall standpoint, basketball standpoint, school standpoint. Uh, it is definitely different, I say. Definitely wasn't somewhat expected. Coming in tow, Duke. Our prior to Kobane. But I think we've all adjusted Well, uh, Duke has done a great job with adjusting a swell. So it's been It's been great so far. Thank you. Yes, Casey hints. Go ahead. Galen. Casey hints from WRL TV Channel five, Raleigh Durham. Question for you is you kind of mentioned Duca's Duke, and obviously there's gonna be no fans, just kind of. I'm sure there was probably so much excitement for that first home game, and now, with no fans going to be in there kind of What's that anticipation level like? And how can you even, you know, What are you expecting for that first game now, knowing there'll be no fans, Uh, fans or not, this is my biggest dream. Just being able to put on a Duke basketball jersey. So I think that's gonna be more especially than anything itself. So, uh, of course I love to have a camera. Crazies. Infant, sir. Uh, unfortunately, uh, things aren't going that way and looking too promising, but yeah, I'm just really looking forward to putting on that duke jersey. I think that's the thing I'm most excited for. Um, I know the fans have been great a camera, but this is really that Duke basketball being able put on that jersey for the first time. It's gonna be really special for me and a quick follow up. If I could just you mentioned, you know, you just still filling out your own body and your growth physically. And, you know, maybe, you know, coming off a few injuries or whatnot last year. What is the biggest thing? As far as, like, growth in your game, you've had to do you know, since leaving high school ranks and just your short time and college just in practice right now. Could you repeat that question one more time? Just, you know, with you still filling out your own body And, like, physicality wise, what is your biggest growth in your game? Just from, you know, leaving high school Thio arriving on Duke's campus. I think the biggest growth so far is this, uh, I think I think probably I play making, uh, that came a long way. Because now maybe I'm playing with other five star prospects. Uh, and they really just bring my game up in all aspect because it pushes me. Really? There's no place you could take off because it's constantly people coming at you, so yeah, also. Thank you. Yeah. All right. Jason Evans. Go ahead, Jalen. I wonder if you can reflect on your teammates a little bit. I know you're you know, you're new to college basketball, but which of your teammates have impressed you so far in practice? What are some of the things that happened so far in practice? That prize for you coming from high school to college? Ah, some of the people that I say have caught my attention the most. Really? Everybody's been great. Uh, let me get that out there first. Uh, some of the people uh Quindel, Matt. Jeremy, Mark. Ah, Jeremy Just been a true what a true point guard really is. Like, he really can get to a spots. And he made he makes stuff happen. Uh, saying for went down and saying for Matt, Really? Uh, and Mark, they're all they're all just fun to play with. Really? Uh, and the rest of the guys as well. So, uh, yeah, on. And if I can follow up on that as a newcomer, you got any funny stories of, like, maybe getting lost or not knowing what's going on for you or the other freshmen on the team of, you know, uh, I mean, you're you're in a strange place in strange circumstances. Anything amusing happened with you guys so far? Unfortunately, I don't got any stories to tell. Uh, campuses is a little bit different this year. So on classes are over Zoom. So just kind of having a normal freshening experience is a little bit alter this year. Uh, but I'm sure something will come about somehow, some way in a good way, of course, but yeah. Thanks a lot, Mr. All right. Go ahead. JB Ricks. Hey, Jalen. JB rigs from Spectrum News one. Nice to meet you. Virtually. Um I got a two part question for you. The first part is going back. Thio, uh, coach care Well, yesterday, speaking on Henry Coleman having a voice that is that is just kind of reaching out him and Wendell or whatever. Uh, his voice is the one that's like reaching out right now. And I wanted to get your perspective on that. What is it about Henry Coleman that that that has his voice standing out right now amongst all the freshmen? Yeah, I think Henry just way mature beyond his years. Uh, you would think Definitely. He's a senior in college, by the way. He talks, he communicates. He, uh he's a great leader. That's that's exactly what he is. He's He's our leader. He we needed that, uh and e. I want to say he's the leader, but he's one of the main guys that is stepping up in the local aspect of things. Uh, he's just great to be around. He's a great guy. Um, always cracking jokes, and it's just it's just great great energy around him, a lot of people to attract them. And my follow up question to that is, you know, when you guys, this is this is kind of the standard that do what they bring in, Um, you know, a gang of top tier freshman every year. What is that adjustment like when when you come in like, you know, you're not being you're not the guy anymore. You're coming into a team and a program. And with an incoming class of guys who can play Justus well, as you can be just as much a leaders. You What's the adjustment for for for you, freshman to kind of pick your spots when you want to try to be that leader or you want to step up and be aggressive? How do you guys go about that? As far as doing that with so many options? Well, I think the thing that separates us six freshmen that came in from anybody else, we knew what we were coming in for and what we're buying into, Uh, we're not coming into this for individual accolades. Uh, we came in this together and everything else will take care of itself. So I think that's what separated us from other people or other classes in the country. Uh, just kind of knowing, knowing, uh, everybody's talented around you and not having that ego coming in getting rid of the Eagles at the door because we all know Coach K doesn't play that, uh so just so just kind of knowing, knowing what to expect when you come in things like that. I appreciate your brother. Good luck this season. Appreciate. All right, Mike Armstrong, go ahead. Hey, Jalen. Mark Armstrong with ABC 11 TV here locally to I guess building a little bit off JB story. Um, you're blending in with a bunch of very talented guys. But you were the one guy on the entire team that was selected preseason first team all A C c. Was that surprising to you at all? Or is that match up with your expectations of what you're gonna do this year? It's a great thing to see. Uh, like I said before, it's not something I'm focused on. Uh, I believe I'm a farm believer. Do the team things first, and the individual accolades will take care of itself. I've always believed in that. So I'm just gonna continue to believe in that and let everything take care of itself. So not gonna really pay attention so much of this preseason stuff. Uh, once again, it's preseason. Uh, and at the end of the day, I want that six title. So whatever it takes, did you hear anything from your teammates about you being the guy that got that honorific to start the season? No, we don't. We don't really talk about that stuff much. Uh, think we're not jealous of each other. We love seeing each other do well when succeed. Uh, so and we're just gonna keep doing that, no matter the situation, no matter the circumstance. All right. David Thompson. Go ahead, please. Hey, Jalen. How you doing? My name? Thompson with the USA Today network. Your coaches have praised you, You know, for, uh, doing doing the little extra things extra running extra shooting after practice. Can you talk about some of the other extra things that you've done to prepare for the season? Oh, yeah. This offseason. Uh, it has been a grind. Really? Um, it's been a grind. Just constantly trying to get up. Extra shots in practice are after practice and before practice. Uh, trying to do that every day. Uh, if not every other day. So just constantly trying toe push myself to be the best version I could be, uh, and just keep doing it on. It's all going to eventually pay off. Are you kind of first? One last one toe. Leave the gym right now. I don't really got It's not really a scheduled thing. I guess that's true. Yeah, like whatever happens, happens. Uh, but I'm I'm always locked in once I get going, so I may be in there for an extra hour. Extra 20. Uh, it really just depends on the day room. And last thing real quick. You know, it looks like and things could change in a week that you'll probably be in the starting five. I mean, what does that mean to you as a freshman to walk out on your first game as a starter? Uh, is big. Um, once again, uh, you're playing for Duke. So that's what I'm gonna keep playing for. I'm not gonna play for the name on the back of the Jersey Of course, I'm gonna still think about that and do my thing, but it's you're playing for Duke basketball. Not many more bigger blessings come than this one and stuff. So I'm just gonna really embrace it, not take it for granted. And just keep keep working from here. All right? Tom Shannon, Go ahead, please. Hey, Jalen. Tom Shanahan from Lawson Times and Tom Shannon report dot com. Hey, you know, now that the n b a draft is tonight, nowadays a lot of guys go overseas or even the G league. You talked about what brought you the Duke? What also brought you just the college experience, even if it only turns out to be one year? Um, yeah, I say, I know. I mentioned there's a lot already, but just the opportunity to be able to play for Coach K. Uh, just kind of seeing his rich history, uh, seeing what he's done with this past players, all that other stuff. I found that more appealing, and I think I could take a education. Uh, uh huh. A degree over. Just, uh, going to get 500,000 real quick. I do that any any day of the week. So I'm happy with the decision I made. Uh, if I could do it again, I do the same thing, but answer. Thank you. Is it? And we got time for a couple more. We'll go to Steve Wiseman. Go ahead, Steve. There you go. Jalen, um wanted to ask you about the duke's offense. Where they where they run a fast break off a missed basket or made basketball team and and the five out or or four out, one down style during the recruiting process. Is that something that you that you noticed? And what did you think about it? That time has convicted yourself fitting into it. And now that you're in it, what do you think about it? Uh, well, not I'm in it, uh, much. It's so simple. So simple. Coach breaks the game down in so many ways where you just look at it and you like like, no way. It was this simple after one. After all, he just has you really constantly thinking the game. And I think that's been a big thing, Uh, for me and just seeing seeing the teams over the past years, uh, with RJ Cham and Sai on. And then last year's team just kind of really thinking, thinking the game, seeing what they're doing. See how I pictured myself in it? And then now that I'm here, uh, you just really, really realize how simple it is. Thanks. Alright, vast. I go ahead. Jalen, Thanks for your time. I saw in the Duke Twitter feed that you guys seemed really excited watching that countdown. The movie. You just give us a little sneak peek of what we can expect. I think it drops this Friday. Ah, it's gonna It's gonna be fun. Uh, you're gonna see, not going to say too much because you really just gotta You really gotta watch it. It's hard it z already explained, but, uh, I promise it's definitely something that you see, uh, tune in for and something that all the Duke fans and people will enjoy. All right, Brendan Marks, you had Hey, Jalen, you had mentioned that you thought that your you know, in terms of what your skills have evolved since you've been at Duke, the playmaking is probably the area where you think you've come too far this so far. I'm just wondering, you know over the next couple of months or so. What are the skills that you must think You need to continue to improve on one of the things that you want to continue? Um, trying to get the better at, I guess, Uh, well, I think just everything I think everything has been making strides in the right direction, to say the least, Uh, my jump shot. Uh, it's just been making strides. It's constantly gotten better. I'm not going to say I'm not gonna sit up here and tell you guys I'm making 35 40 in the role right now because that's not that's not the truth, but I'm constantly getting better every day. So that's that's all I'm really looking for. I've noticed this. Uh, my lateral quickness has gotten much better. Um, I'm turning into more of, ah defender started, take more pride in the defense, and so so just really enjoying the process more than anything. Awesome. Thank you. Yes, sir. Are we have time for two more? We'll goto Evan Colon actually ahead. Evan. So pretty much every coach your players talked about you so far as mentioned lethal in transition. But one thing I believe Coach Shire talked about. I think it was a month ago. Now is that you're working on finding your go to moves in the half. Course, I was just wondering over the past month. Couple weeks? How have you seen improvement in that area you have? You sort of found what? Your go to move. They're gonna be in the hat off court, on offense. Yeah, I've always, uh, kinda had some half court stuff, Just kind of being able to have the confidence to use it. Uh, because I'm very I'm very good at going downhill. And sometimes I don't think I realized how good I am at doing that. Uh, and sometimes I just need to have the confidence to be ableto just trust my gut, trust my instincts sometimes more than I usually do. All right. Last question will go to Casey hence. Go ahead. Casey. Casey, You still on? Well, yeah, yeah. I'm just gonna ask you about the NBA draft tonight. Obviously, there's a couple of guys that will be on that board. Um, that were just in your shoes a year ago. So is that you guys have any excitement on that does the team plan on watching that at all? Oh, yeah, for sure. We're gonna tune into the three guys that we got entered tonight. So we're hoping the best for trade caches and burn, Uh, and just excited to follow them, uh, in the future. All right, Jalen, really appreciate your time this morning. Thanks very much. Best of luck this season, Aziz always will email out quotes later today and get some video of this and B roll of jail in one of those who need it. So again, Jalen, thanks for your time and to the media. I appreciate everybody hopping on. Thanks again.