With four players expected to be chosen in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft, Duke Basketball has further cemented its standing as a top talent manufacturer. This outstanding accomplishment demonstrates the program’s ongoing supremacy in player development under head coach Jon Scheyer’s direction

The combination of youth, athleticism, and skill exhibited by the Blue Devils’ quartet of NBA prospects makes them a powerful force in college basketball. Leading the assault is the dynamic forward **Kyle Filipowski**, who came back for his sophomore season to improve. Filipowski’s draft status has risen into lottery zone due to his ability to stretch the floor, grab rebounds, and play with a high basketball IQ. His choice to remain at Duke for an additional year has paid off, demonstrating his leadership and growth on and off the court.

**Tyrese Proctor**, the dynamic guard whose playmaking skills and court vision have earned comparisons to NBA All-Stars, will join Filipowski in the first-round discussion. Proctor is a sought-after prospect among scouts because of his ability to create opportunities for his teammates and his improved shooting. His abilities to dominate games and maintain composure under duress have been crucial to Duke’s success this season.

Promising freshmen **Jared McCain** and **Sean Stewart** complete the group of first-round prospects. With his exceptional offensive skill set and ability to shoot, McCain has established himself as one of the nation’s top perimeter threats. NBA teams looking for a dependable two-way player find him to be an appealing option because to his fluid stroke and defensive perseverance. Stewart, however, has received overwhelmingly positive feedback for his unadulterated athleticism and dominance in the paint. With a wingspan that seems to go on forever and a height of 6’9″, Stewart has the skills necessary to be a top-tier defender and rim protector.

Duke’s outstanding player development and recruiting practices are evident in its ability to continuously generate NBA-ready talent. The program trains athletes to transition smoothly to the professional game by emphasizing both team success and individual talent development. The predictions for this year’s draft provide more evidence of Duke’s unmatched capacity to develop young athletes into future superstars.

All eyes will be on these four Blue Devils as the NBA Draft draws near. In addition to confirming Duke’s supremacy, their inclusion in the first round will pave the way for a fresh group of players eager to establish themselves at the highest level.

Kon Knueppel of Duke Played Amazingly Well to Help His Teammate Stay Within Boundaries

In a thrilling ACC matchup between Duke and NC State on Monday night, it was freshman Kon Knueppel who stole the show with a game-changing play

While Cooper Flagg is often the standout star for the Blue Devils, Knueppel’s quick thinking and clever move made all the difference. With the clock ticking down in the second half, Duke’s Tyrese Proctor found himself falling out of bounds while holding the ball.

In a flash of brilliance, Knueppel grabbed Proctor’s leg and pulled him back onto the court, preventing a turnover and giving Duke a crucial opportunity to maintain possession

  Knueppel concluded the game on Monday night with 19 points, six rebounds, and three forced turnovers. The Blue Devils won 74-64, improving their season record to 18-2 (10-0 in the ACC). On Saturday, No. 2 Duke will play their bitter rival North Carolina Tar Heels at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. ESPN will broadcast that one when it tips off at 6:30 p.m. EST.

Duke basketball hopes to remove ’emergency’ designation off important reserve ahead of Final Four.

While most are focusing on defense in the upcoming Duke-Houston showdown, rebounding could be the real difference-maker. Securing the glass is always crucial, but it’s especially important against a physical and relentless team like Houston.

Houston’s identity is built on toughness, which extends beyond defense into rebounding. Controlling the defensive boards limits second-chance points and can lower Houston’s shooting efficiency.

Let’s look at the numbers:

Houston’s Top Rebounders:

• J’Wan Roberts – 6.3
• Joseph Tugler – 5.9
• Ja’Vier Francis – 5.1
• Mylick Wilson – 4.1
• Milos Uzan – 3.0
• Emanuel Sharp – 3.0
• Terrance Arceneaux – 2.7
• LJ Cryer – 2.3

Duke’s Top Rebounders:

• Cooper Flagg – 7.5
• Khaman Maluach – 6.8
• Sion James – 4.2
• Kon Knueppel – 3.9
• Maliq Brown – 3.7
• Tyrese Proctor – 3.1
• Patrick Ngongba – 2.8
• Mason Gillis – 2.6

Team Totals:

• Duke: 38.6 RPG
• Houston: 36.2 RPG

The totals are close, but what stands out is what happens when Houston loses:

• Auburn (74–69 win): Rebounds even at 33 each.
• Alabama (85–80 OT loss): Alabama outrebounded Houston 48–39.
• San Diego State (73–70 OT loss): Houston edged SDSU 40–38.
• Texas Tech (82–81 OT loss): Houston won the battle 38–37.

In those tight games, rebounding often played a pivotal role, especially when Houston lost the edge. The only recent close win was against Purdue, where Houston dominated the boards 38–29.

J’Wan Roberts was a standout in that game with 12 rebounds (five offensive). Other key contributors chipped in just enough to make a difference.

Still, rebounding isn’t just stats—it’s about grit and determination. NBA legend Charles Barkley, undersized for a forward, was an elite rebounder purely through effort and will. That’s the kind of energy teams need to beat Houston.

Duke’s roster, while statistically strong, includes three starting freshmen, whereas Houston is battle-tested and experienced. The Cougars resemble past gritty teams like Tony Bennett’s Virginia or Butler’s 2010 squad—hard to shake, always in the game.

Houston’s losses also show a pattern with shooting:

• Auburn: 41.4% FG, 38.5% 3PT, 5 made threes
• Alabama: 36.9% FG, 31.6% 3PT, 6 made threes
• San Diego State: 37.1% FG, 45.8% 3PT, 11 made threes
• Texas Tech: 45.3% FG, 35.7% 3PT, 5 made threes

Houston’s offensive production tends to drop when opponents control threes and boards. A good example is last year’s title game: UConn allowed Zach Edey his numbers but locked down the rest of the Purdue squad—and it worked. Duke might have a similar opportunity against Houston, even without a dominant post player like Edey in this matchup.

Against Tennessee, Houston shot just 42.4% overall and 36% from deep. Had Tennessee limited them to five threes (their average in most losses) and grabbed a few more defensive rebounds, the game could’ve been a lot closer—even with Tennessee’s poor shooting night.

And in Houston’s tight win over Purdue (62–60), they scored 20 second-chance points. Take just a couple of those away, and the result could flip.

The takeaway? If Duke can match Houston’s toughness, control the glass, and limit perimeter shots, the Cougars become beatable—though pulling that off is far easier said than done.