CONNECTICUT, Sporting Alert – Duke is hoping to have two of its talented freshmen back in a week are so, sources are telling SportingAlert.com.
The top-ranked Blue Devils have been without Harry Giles, Jayson Tatum and Marques Bolden in the regular season so far, but it’s understood two of those players are just about ready to come back.
Both Tatum and Bolden have shown signs of improvement in the last week and could make a return sometime in the coming week.
Duke’s head coach Mike Krzyzewski insists the trio who have been travelling with the team, will remain unavailable until they are healthy enough to make useful contributions on the floor.
Krzyzewski confirmed to ESPN that the three injured players have been ruled out again for this weekend’s Hall of Fame Tip-off tournament, but we understand Tatum and Bolden could be back by midweek next week.
Duke is scheduled to play three games in seven days and the pair could make their regular season debut on either Wednesday against William & Mary or against Appalachian State a week from today.
At the same time, though, Giles, who underwent surgery on his left knee in October, is still not ready to play with the Blue Devils targeting a mid-December return for the freshman forward.
According to team officials, the top freshman is back on the court working with the ball.
Giles is the No. 1-rated player in the 2016 ESPN 100.
Duke is currently taking part in the Hall of Fame tournament, facing Penn State in the first semi-final.
Chase Jeter, meanwhile, picked up an ankle injury in the first half of the game against Penn State and team officials tell SportingAlert that the sophomore will not return.
Grayson Allen also picked up a toe injury in the first half of the game but did return.
