“He’s Got Some Long Arms”: Maliq Brown Shines Spotlight on Duke Freshman Dame Sarr

“He’s Got Some Long Arms”: Maliq Brown Shines Spotlight on Duke Freshman Dame Sarr 👀💙

It’s not often that a seasoned college veteran stops mid-conversation to rave about a freshman. But that’s exactly what happened on the latest episode of The Brotherhood Podcast when Maliq Brown, Duke’s senior defensive anchor, was asked which newcomer has turned heads early in summer workouts.

His answer was instant and emphatic.

“I mean, his wingspan… he’s got some long arms,” Brown said with a grin, referring to freshman wing Dame Sarr. “Just the feel he has for the game being able to score, get stops, and the ball-screen passing it’s definitely something that’s going to help our team.”

Coming from Brown, that’s no small compliment. The 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward transferred to Duke from Syracuse last season and became the steals leader per 40 minutes on a Final Four squad. Known for his high-IQ defense and elite anticipation, Brown sees something special in Sarr not just flashes, but real readiness.

From Italy to Durham: The Rise of Dame Sarr

Still just 19 years old, Dame Sarr arrived at Duke with a global résumé and rising stock. A native of Oderzo, Italy, Sarr played professionally for FC Barcelona, one of Europe’s premier basketball academies, before joining Team World at the 2025 Nike Hoop Summit, where he dropped 17 points and 4 rebounds against elite competition.

Just six weeks removed from his commitment to Duke, Sarr has already become one of the most talked-about freshmen in a recruiting class stacked with four five-star prospects.

But it’s not just about hype it’s about how quickly he’s made an impression on one of the most experienced locker rooms in college basketball.

“His instincts on both ends… they’re just polished,” Brown added. “He can read a play, disrupt it, and then turn it into offense. That’s what we need.”

 A Veteran’s Seal of Approval

With Jon Scheyer entering Year 4 as head coach, this 2025-26 Duke squad is built to contend. Veterans like Caleb Foster, Sean Stewart, and Brown give the Blue Devils experience and leadership. But it’s the rapid rise of newcomers like Sarr that could take them from contenders to champions.

Brown, who knows what it takes to play elite defense at the ACC level, sees Sarr not as a project but as a potential two-way weapon from day one.

And as the Blue Devils ramp up summer training, it’s clear that Sarr isn’t just adapting he’s excelling.

 What’s Next?

If Sarr continues to develop at this pace, he may emerge not only as a key rotation player but possibly a breakout star on a national stage.

For now, he’s earning respect from his teammates one possession at a time.

“He’s got the tools,” Brown said. “And the mindset, too. He wants to compete. That’s what we’re about.”

From Europe to Cameron Indoor, Dame Sarr has arrived. And Duke’s veteran leaders already see something big on the horizon.
The question isn’t if Sarr will make an impact it’s how soon the rest of the country realizes just how dangerous he can be.