What do you expect a child of three years of age to do? Babbling, laughing, or responding to some words. But Jon Scheyer was an exception. When he was a mere three years old, he already knew how to dribble a basketball. Not just that, within six years of training, he was ready to play first national tournament (AAU).

At such a young age, no one could have predicted the kid would grow into a dominant force in basketball. By high school, he was all set to play in the fellowship of the Afro-American Men’s League in Evanston, Illinois. Slowly and gradually, as Scheyer grew, so did his skills on the court.

Before taking up coaching, Scheyer was a professional basketball player

Jon Scheyer’s basketball journey took off when he was just a high schooler, and it was clear early on that he was no ordinary player. His skills were remarkable, his vision was sharp, and he owed a part of it to his parents. Listening to advice, they enrolled him in a school known for its powerhouse basketball program, setting the stage for his ascent.

And Scheyer didn’t disappoint. As a freshman, he immediately became the top scorer at Glenbrook North High School, leading in points and assists. His coach, David Weber, once compared him to legends: “He’s got the flair, the passing abilities, the size—a rare talent today, almost a blend of Larry Bird and ‘Pistol’ Pete Maravich.”

By the time he graduated, he was fourth all-time in Illinois high school scoring and the only player in state history to rank in the top ten across points, rebounds, assists, and steals. Named Mr. Basketball in 2005 by a massive margin, Scheyer was ready for the next step—college.

Out of his four options, he chose Duke, stepping onto the court for the Blue Devils in 2006. Starting every game his freshman year, Scheyer shone, notching a season-high 26 points against North Carolina and earning “ACC Rookie of the Week” three times. Reflecting on that year, he shared, “It was a learning experience… it made me more confident bringing the ball up the court.”

But the journey had its twists—despite his impressive first year, Coach Mike Krzyzewski opted to start Gerald Henderson Jr. in Scheyer’s sophomore season, leaving him out of the starting lineup for all but one game. Still, he suited up for every game, making sure his presence was felt. This was just the beginning of Scheyer’s incredible journey in basketball.

Jon never let his shine fade

In a December 2007 matchup against Pittsburgh, Jon Scheyer showed his grit by snagging a career-high 12 rebounds. Coming off the bench, he set a record for Duke with 27 points and an impressive .889 free-throw percentage. Coach K highlighted his style, saying, “Some of the plays he makes—you might not think he’s that fast, but his body control is off the charts.”

By the time he wrapped up his college career, Scheyer was cemented in Duke’s record books. He set the single-season record for minutes played during the 2009-10 season, leading the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio. With 38 double-figure scoring games, he tied for the third-most in Duke history, logging a team-record 144 consecutive games and an astounding 4,759 minutes on the court.

Yet, as promising as his journey was, Scheyer faced a roadblock. In May, he had to sit out the NBA Draft Combine due to a bout of mononucleosis, which caused him to drop 10 pounds, miss graduation, and lose three critical weeks of preparation. Determined, he bounced back and tried out for ten teams ahead of the 2010 NBA Draft but ultimately went undrafted.

Refusing to give up, Scheyer joined the Miami Heat’s 2010 NBA Las Vegas Summer League squad. In his first game, he made a game-winning shot, but in the second, disaster struck. A poke to the eye from Golden State’s Joe Ingles led to a serious injury—five stitches on his eyelid, an optic nerve injury, and a torn retina. Although sidelined initially, Scheyer returned to the court, this time with protective goggles.

Yes, he did return, playing in the NBA and overseas for multiple leagues.

But still, something wasn’t right, until it was

After his overseas career, he was recruited as a special assistant at Duke following assistant coach Chris Collins’s resignation. For Scheyer, it was the same head coach but an entirely different roster. On April 18, he seized the opportunity and was promoted to a full-time assistant coach for the Blue Devils.

But the true turning point in Jon Scheyer’s career was just around the corner. In 2021, he stepped up as acting head coach while Coach Krzyzewski was in quarantine due to COVID-19, leading the team to a nail-biting 83-82 victory. This experience set the stage for what was to come. Just a few months later, after Krzyzewski announced his retirement, Scheyer was appointed as Duke’s next head coach, officially taking the reins in 2022.

Scheyer quickly made his mark by recruiting top-tier prospects and guiding the team to an ACC championship. However, the NCAA tournament proved to be a hurdle, as Duke was eliminated in the second round. It’s now been two years since he took over, and the quest for a national title continues.

If Scheyer can leverage his skills and vision to lead Duke back to the pinnacle of college basketball, it would mark the program’s first national championship since 2015. The question remains: will he rise to the occasion and deliver that elusive title?