Bradley University Athletics

Braves Add Sun Belt Freshman of the Year Cody “Duke” Deen

Men's Basketball 4/23/2022 10:00:00 AM

The Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year is joining the Bradley men's basketball program as Cody "Duke" Deen (Shreveport, La.) signed with the Braves on Saturday.

"Cody has a winning DNA and has had a successful impact wherever he goes and whatever sport he plays," said Bradley head coach Brian Wardle. "He has a great personality and changes a game with his leadership, confidence and toughness. Cody also has a high basketball IQ with excellent speed, quickness and ability to shoot with unlimited range."

A five-foot-9 guard from Shreveport, Louisiana, Deen helped steer Troy University to a 20-12 record and a 10-6 mark in Sun Belt play during the 2021-22 season. Starting 27-of-30 games as a freshman, Deen keyed the Trojans to a nine-win improvement in his lone season on campus as the team posted its best conference record in 12 years.

Ranking second on the team with 9.0 points and first with 3.2 assists in 23.7 minutes per game, Deen became just the second player in school history to be named Sun Belt Freshman of the Year. Overall, the rookie finished the season ranked eighth in the conference with 1.9 made 3-pointers per game, ninth with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.7 and 10th with his 3.2 assists per game. Deen also added 72 rebounds and 30 steals during the 2021-22 campaign, while shooting 33.9 percent from beyond the arc and 82.3 percent from the free-throw line.

Prior to joining the Trojans, Deen spent one season at Panola College. With the Ponies, Deen averaged a team-best 20.0 points and 4.9 assists – shooting 44.6 percent from the field and 41.6 percent from 3-point range. He finished the 2020-21 campaign ranked 19th in the NJCAA in scoring and 47th in assists.

Deen is the third player to sign with the Braves for the 2022-23 season, joining guards Christian Davis and James "Pop" Weathers. The trio joins a program that returns nine letterwinners and three starters from a team that finished the 2021-22 campaign with a 17-14 overall record and an 11-7 mark in Missouri Valley Conference action – tied for its most wins in Valley play in the last 21 seasons.

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