Duke men's basketball 2024-25 player review: Mason Gillis - The Chronicle
As the Blue Devils’ season comes to an end, the Blue Zone takes a final look at every player’s performance this year. We’ve already analyzed Cooper Flagg, Isaiah Evans, Khaman Maluach, Tyrese Proctor, Sion James , Caleb Foster and Kon Knueppel. Next up is graduate forward Mason Gillis:
Graduate
6-foot-6
Forward
14.7 MPG, 4.1 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 0.8 APG
Mason Gillis was the second transfer for head coach Jon Scheyer in last year’s portal cycle after Syracuse forward Maliq Brown committed to Duke. “It’s been my dream to come to Duke,” Gillis said on The Brotherhood Podcast.
“Mason is all about winning and doing whatever his team needs,” Scheyer said when Gillis joined the Blue Devils. “He brings an incredible competitiveness and toughness to our program, and his leadership will have a big impact on our team."
He came in under the assumption of a leadership role after spending four seasons at Purdue and earning the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year award in his senior season. His last game as a Boilermaker came as a loss against UConn in the 2024 national championship game, so his sights were set when he transferred. Experience for that sixth banner Duke sought after was crucial, especially in a room full of freshman talents.
Gillis was known to be efficient from 3-point range. In his final season at Purdue, his clip from the arc was 46.8%; his percentage as a Blue Devil finished at 34.0%. Gillis posted 10 points and three rebounds in his regular season debut at Duke, going 2-for-4 from beyond the 3-point line against Maine. His best offensive performance came against Miami in his team’s first meeting with the Hurricanes, where he went 4-for-6 from 3-point land. Fellow forward Isaiah Evans’ consistent 3-point shooting negated the need for Gillis’ proficient shot-making.
When taking a look at Gillis’ stat sheet at face value, many would argue that more production was needed from him. His presence on the wing helped to maintain space on the floor and opened opportunities for his teammates to score on the inside, but he still remained as an option in case they wanted to kick the ball out. Teams studying film became familiar with GIllis’ constant pump fake, but he was also able to pull the trigger when he felt the need.
His main contributions, however, were most noted in his poise on the court and ability to keep his freshman teammates in check. He brought a serious veteran presence to the locker room with his focus set on doing whatever the team needed to win, adopting a role which included rebounding, spacing the floor and diving for loose balls without hesitation.
Whether it be a point scored for or against Duke, it always seemed as though Gillis was the first one to hustle back on defense or get in position in the corner. He did all this without getting too many touches of the ball — a reflection of the culture Scheyer brought, but also in due part to Gillis’ personality.
In several instances when a Blue Devil freshman was involved in a foul — whether on the giving or receiving end — Gillis was consistently the first to approach them. A clear example came during the game at Wake Forest. At the 9:26 mark in the first half, forward Patrick Ngongba II committed a shooting foul. The first teammate there, Gillis gave an explanation and instruction for future reference. This small sample of the entire season showcased Scheyer’s trust in Gillis to be a voice of leadership and mentorship.
Following the conclusion of the ACC Championship game, Gillis was asked about the dynamics of the team and where he fit in. “Are you considered the ‘unc’ of the team?” Gillis was asked as it related to his age compared to his younger cohort. Gillis laughed and replied “They have called me that a couple times.” He understood and embodied his role perfectly, not losing sight of the main objective.
“We haven’t won [anything],” Gillis said about winning the ACC Tournament. In San Antonio, he was asked a similar question about enjoying the trip to the Final Four. “Nah, we still haven’t won a championship,” Gillis said.
Through whatever the coaching staff required of him, Gillis made sure there was no question about his effort. His calm presence radiated off his teammates who otherwise seemed rushed or panicked in high-intensity situations. His collegiate career ended without having the opportunity to accomplish his goal of winning a national championship, but fulfilled his dream of playing for The Brotherhood.
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