Who is Dereck Lively? How has the 7’1” Duke freshman fared for Blue Devils? All you need to know
Dereck Lively was the No. 1 high school basketball recruit in the country. After signing with Duke, Lively became the next big name to suit up for the Blue Devils.
It hasn't been the freshman season that many expected for Lively. At 7-foot-1, Lively has the mobility to be an athletic rim-running big man. He's shown the upside to be an effective anchor defensively, with promising shot-blocking instincts.
Lively has also shown flashes of offensive upside, going back to his high school playing days. With Lively's solid shooting stroke from the perimeter, many NBA scouts were intrigued to see if he would become a more well-rounded big man.
After a preseason injury, Lively has been playing catch up to get in game shape. In his first six games of the year, Lively came off the bench twice. He averaged 3.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in just 16.7 minutes per game during that span.
Dereck Lively looking to find his groove with Duke Blue Devils
The opening half of the 2022-23 NCAA season has been a challenging one for Duke Blue Devils freshman Dereck Lively. After coming into the year as the nation's No. 1 recruit, Lively faced lofty expectations.
That's just what happens when a hyped freshman talent suits up for the Blue Devils. While Lively has shown flashes, he hasn't been given a lengthy amount of opportunity to develop. Confidence is such a key factor in developing freshman. For young teenagers to take the next step as a basketball player, confidence is required.
Dereck Lively II gets a ridiculous block at the rim on FSU.
@DukeMBB | @DereckLively https://t.co/wxeZWdJchm
Lively continues to get playing time for the Blue Devils, but his role on the offensive side of the ball has been disappointing. Sixteenth-ranked Duke (11-3) uses him primarily as a rebounding big man who can protect the rim defensively. In his limited minutes, Lively has done a great job of shot-blocking.
In his last five games, Lively has averaged 5.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg and 2.8 bpg. With those numbers being in just 16.7 minutes, it's fascinating to debate what Lively could do with extended playing time.