The Duke basketball program currently boasts a three-year walk-on center from Turkey. While Duke appears to be leading the race to acquire former four-year Tulane guard Sion James, even if they secure his transfer, they would still have two available scholarships.
It wouldn’t be surprising if head coach Jon Scheyer decides to award one of those scholarships to Stanley Borden, a 7-footer from Istanbul, Turkey. Borden joined Duke in September 2021 and is now the sole remaining player from retired coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final Blue Devil team.
Borden’s presence may have influenced the Duke coaching staff’s newfound interest in outgoing UC Irvine freshman Derin Saran, another Istanbul native. Notably, Saran, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard, attended Asheville School (N.C.) during his prep years, giving him some familiarity with the state.
According to NFcomtr, a source specializing in Turkish basketball, Jon Scheyer’s Blue Devils have recently expressed interest in Saran, joining a list of potential suitors that includes Stanford, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Georgia, and Marquette.
During his single season at UC Irvine, 20-year-old Derin Saran maintained an average of 10.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. His shooting percentages were 50.2% from the field, 34.9% from three-point range, and 80.0% from the free-throw line.
Saran achieved his double-figure scoring average while playing only 19.1 minutes per game coming off the bench in 31 appearances. This performance contributed to UC Irvine’s overall record of 24-10, with a dominant 17-3 record in Big West play.
