It runs in the family. Jordan Duke makes name for himself as he helps Classical to D-I title

PROVIDENCE — Jordan Duke made the most of his chance to finally play in this gym.

He’s watched more than a few games over the years at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Wednesday night saw him take this floor with Classical, and he extended a family legacy that first came to the forefront in this state in 2016.

That’s when his older brother, David, helped lead the Purple to a Division I boys basketball championship by outlasting Bishop Hendricken. Younger brother now has a crown of his own after Classical edged city rival La Salle, 60-57, in a thriller.

“My brother definitely has a big name,” Duke said in a quiet hallway outside the team locker room. “Wearing that last name, I have to do something special. I’ve got to live stress-free and be my own person.”

It’s not the easiest proposition. David prepped at Cushing, played three years with Providence College and is in his third season with an NBA franchise. He signed a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs in December and is a past All-Star selection in the G League. Basketball was his game from an early age – the promise in his long, lean body was on full display while he piled up 26 points against the Hawks.

Jordan is a different physical challenge for opponents, and the undersized Purple were grateful for it on this night. His critical defensive rebound inside the final five seconds helped protect a 58-57 edge. Eliezer Delbrey made a pair of ensuing free throws to help ice it.

“I saw the ball going left and I was like, ‘No, this one has to come to me,’” Duke said. “That’s how we shut down the game. I went up for it and luckily no hands were on it with mine.”

Most opponents would find it difficult to pry anything away from him. Duke is a standout football player and looks the part – he's powerfully built and possesses leaping ability special enough to block shots off the backboard. Classical’s No. 3 jersey is stretched across his back instead of hanging off a developing set of shoulders like it did eight years ago.

“Rebounding was definitely a factor in this one,” Duke said. “I’m a small player but I can still do things to help the team – rebound, blocked shots, all that.”

Duke is wearing a shiner under his left eye – that came courtesy of some stray contact in a 59-47 semifinal victory against Bishop Hendricken. The Purple locked up the top seed in the upcoming state tournament field with that triumph, but there was still business remaining on this night. Classical has dropped just one game in 2023-24, and that came to Connecticut power New London.

“You definitely feel it within,” Duke said. “We all just click together. We click at school, hanging out – this team is just special.”

The Purple were tested like on few other occasions in this one. They faced a 43-35 deficit after three quarters and were just 1-for-22 from 3-point range. Azzy Harrison heated up from deep to push Classical back within striking distance and Abdul Evans eventually connected on the winning free throw with 19.5 seconds left.

“Playing from behind is definitely not easy,” Duke said. “We were just going into it like we had to come back. We had to put extra focus into the game.”

Duke’s defensive board with 25.3 seconds left helped send Evans on a drive the other way. His next one delivered a second division crown to the Purple in three seasons. Now their eyes are trained on an open state tournament crown, one that has eluded Classical – and, while he was in uniform, David – since the 2012-13 campaign.

“The way we come together in those tough moments – we trust each other,” Duke said. “We have to play together the rest of the season.

“One championship down. One more to go.”

bkoch@providencejournal.com

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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Jordan Duke helps Classical win Division I boys basketball crown