The Duke Blue Devils positioned themselves as strong contenders for the national championship early this season and are currently ranked as the top team in the East region of the NCAA Tournament bracket.
Duke is set to face the Baylor Bears in the Round of 32 after securing a win against Mount St. Mary’s in the first round.
Although the Blue Devils are led by freshman Cooper Flagg and other emerging talents, transfer player Sion James has been a key figure throughout the season.
James is in his first season with Duke after transferring from the Tulane Green Wave.
As James and the Blue Devils continue their NCAA Tournament journey, the Duke player took to social media to share exciting NIL news with his followers.
“College basketball has its highs and lows, but I wouldn’t trade my journey for anything,” James said. “All the challenges and triumphs along the way have brought me to where I am today at Duke! I’m thankful for the chance to do what I love every day with my teammates.”
James has signed a partnership deal with Fifth Third Bank, a financial institution based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
During his first season with the Blue Devils, James has averaged 8.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game.
While contributing offensively, James has also been one of the ACC champions’ most effective defenders, averaging 1.2 steals per game.
Duke will now play Baylor in the second round and prepare for a potential matchup against either No. 4 Arizona or No. 5 Oregon in the Sweet 16, depending on the results of
Sunday night’s games.