When Jon Scheyer met with Sebastian Wilkins within the spring, Wilkins wasn’t asking for reassurance about taking part in time or a task.
He took a unique strategy.
“He simply mentioned ‘Inform me what I must do and I will do it,'” Scheyer mentioned at 2026 ACC Tipoff.
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Wilkins redshirted final season as Duke superior to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Match. He had reclassified to affix the Blue Devils a 12 months early earlier than Scheyer introduced two video games into the season that Wilkins would sit out the 12 months.
Now, that endurance has changed into alternative.
“Sebastian actually has used that 12 months in one of the simplest ways as a result of he understands what we’re on the lookout for,” Scheyer mentioned.
“You possibly can ask our guys, he is like a unique particular person. He simply has thrown himself on this factor totally, does no matter we have requested.”
How Duke basketball’s Sebastian Wilkins used his redshirt 12 months ‘one of the simplest ways’
Scheyer pointed to Wilkins’ willingness to embrace his function and discover methods to assist the group win.
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“He guard a number of positions, he retains offense shifting, he is a extremely good connector, he shoots and makes his open 3’s at a excessive clip, he is been a constant man that crashes offensive boards,” Scheyer mentioned. “So to me, it is a fairly good recipe proper now.”
Wilkins’ affect was evident in Duke’s preseason exhibition towards Belmont on Oct. 8. He was the primary participant off the bench and completed with eight factors, six rebounds – 4 on the offensive glass – with two steals and an help in 22 minutes.
“He simply does a whole lot of what’s referred to as the little issues, though they are not little,” Scheyer mentioned after the exhibition. “Sebastian does all of it, and he took 10 pictures tonight, however he isn’t on the market to attain both. He can, however I simply assume he does a pleasant job impacting successful and constructing belief with me all through the practices, and he is earned the minutes that he acquired tonight, and he’ll hold going.”
Wilkins credit a lot of that progress to the teachings discovered throughout his redshirt season.
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“What I discovered was what it takes to win at this degree,” Wilkins mentioned at Duke’s annual media day. “There’s rather a lot that goes into it, that many individuals do not see exterior. So, simply studying how one can win and being extra bodily. Simply areas I can develop in to assist the group win.”
The 12 months wasn’t with out its troublesome moments, however Wilkins mentioned his teammates helped him keep dedicated to the method.
“I had robust moments, however everybody had my again and that is my teammates,” Wilkins mentioned. “They actually made it simple for me to remain the course.”
Now, his teammates are seeing the distinction a 12 months has made.
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“I’ve to provide props to Sebastian, man,” Dame Sarr mentioned. “For him redshirting final 12 months and coming on this 12 months, he is an entire completely different participant on the court docket, off the court docket.”
“What he is doing offensively, he is making the best performs, making the best selections,” Patrick Ngongba II added. “Defensively, he is been an amazing defender for us.”
Wilkins spent final season studying what it takes to win at Duke. Now, he is getting the possibility to assist the Blue Devils do it.
“He is in all probability been the most effective man on our group by way of simply throwing himself into the group and making an attempt to affect successful,” Scheyer mentioned.
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Anna Snyder covers Duke for The Fayetteville Observer as a part of the USA TODAY Community. Attain her at asnyder@usatodayco.com or comply with her @annaesnydr on X, previously often called Twitter.
This text initially appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: How Duke basketball’s Sebastian Wilkins used his redshirt 12 months ‘one of the simplest ways’