Maliq Brown's journey from Syracuse to Duke basketball has been quite remarkable. In his first season with the Blue Devils, he has already made a significant impact. Per 247Sports, he ranked No. 66 overall in the offseason portal. But in Travis Branham's grading of 19 high-profile transfers across the country on Friday morning, Brown stood out as one of the few who received an A or better.

Finding the Perfect Complementary Piece

No. 4 Duke had a strong core of players coming in, led by superstar recruit Cooper Flagg. The task in the portal was to find complementary pieces, and Jon Scheyer found the perfect one in Maliq Brown. So far this season, Brown has come off the bench and has had a massive impact on the game. He has been a foundational piece in Duke's game plan, and his presence will be invaluable as they gear up for ACC play.

Brown's Performance in Recent Games

Speaking of ACC play, which continues for the Blue Devils (8-2, 1-0 ACC) when they travel to face Georgia Tech on Dec. 21, there's no doubt that coach Jon Scheyer hopes Brown is back to 100 percent. He sat out of Tuesday night's 72-46 home win over Incarnate Word due to a sprained toe, and there's no timetable for his return. Through nine appearances, the 21-year-old Maliq Brown is averaging 3.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.1 steals while shooting 63.2 percent of the field. In his past two outings - victories over No. 2 Auburn and unranked Louisville - he saw new season highs in playing time with 25 and 29 minutes, respectively. This shows his growing importance to the team.

Looking Ahead to the Next Game

Duke, enjoying its longest winning streak of the season at four games, next faces the visiting George Mason Patriots (7-3, 0-0 Atlantic 10) at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday (ACC Network). The team will be looking to continue their winning momentum with Brown's potential return. His skills and contributions on both ends of the court have been crucial, and his absence has been felt. As they prepare for this game, all eyes will be on Maliq Brown and his recovery.