Head coach Jon Scheyer recruited four five-star players in the Class of 2024, headlined by prodigy Cooper Flagg, and the Blue Devils have started three rookies this season
Flagg, whom ESPN’s Jonathan Givony named the best player in the country on Wednesday, has scored at least 20 points in 12 of his 23 collegiate games and improved as a 3-point shooter and offensive facilitator since December 31.
Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach, the other first-year starters, have showed signs of being potential superstars in their own way. Knueppel is averaging 15.2 points over his previous 12 games despite not scoring against Boston College, a scoring rate that would increase to 16.5 points without that game, while Maluach posted back-to-back double-doubles against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Miami Hurricanes last month.
Givony and Jeremy Woo produced a new NBA mock draft on Wednesday morning, and all three aforementioned freshmen were off the board by the seventh pick. See where they (and three other colleagues) ended up below.
2024-25 statistics: 19.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.3 blocks, 47.9% FG, 36.4% 3PT.
Flagg, the most dynamic player in the country, distinguishes himself from other prospects regarded as generational talents by his ability to become whatever Duke need in a given game. He’s set an ACC rookie record with 42 points in a single game, taken only seven shots in a conference away game owing to increased defensive attention, and handed out four assists in the opening five minutes of a rivalry game against the North Carolina Tar Heels.
2024-25 statistics: 7.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 72.4% FG
Maluach, who is 7 feet 2 inches tall and with a wingspan of 7 feet 5, has been one of the nation’s top rim protectors since the beginning. On offense, he is effective with the ball in his hands, frequently scoring with one or two dribbles, and his lateral quickness allows him to transition out to the perimeter with ease.
2024-25 statistics: 11.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.7 steals, 42.1% FG, 39.6% 3PT.
Each Duke squad need an experienced starter to show up in critical occasions, and Proctor has settled into that role nicely. He nailed two huge 3-pointers in the December win against the Auburn Tigers, including one near the halfcourt line at the end of the shot clock, and he scored 16 points before halftime to keep the Blue Devils in the game against the Clemson Tigers.
2024-25 statistics: 7.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.0 steals, 51.2% FG, 37.5% 3PT.
James, to use a cliché, is your favorite basketball player’s favorite basketball player. He’s a Swiss Army knife for head coach Jon Scheyer, as seen by his statistics. He grabbed 11 boards against Virginia Tech, eight assists against SMU, and 13 points in two straight games against NC State and the Tar Heels.
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