Imagine if college players had to play 4 years in college before going to the NBA.

What If College Players Had to Stay Four Years? A Look at Duke’s Hypothetical 2024-25 Roster

In an alternate universe where college basketball players had to complete four years before declaring for the NBA Draft, Duke Men’s Basketball would look absolutely stacked this season. Imagine a world where top recruits stayed to develop instead of heading to the league after one season—Duke would have a dynasty on its hands.

The Ultimate Duke Superteam

If NBA draft rules required players to stay four years, this is what Duke’s roster could look like for the 2024-25 season:

• Paolo Banchero (Senior) – 6’10” Forward
  The 2022 No. 1 overall pick by the Orlando Magic would still be leading the Blue Devils, bringing his elite scoring, playmaking, and versatility back to the college level.
• AJ Griffin (Senior) – 6’6” Wing
  Instead of developing in the NBA, Griffin would have spent the past four years refining his elite shooting and athleticism at Duke. Imagine him knocking down threes and playing lockdown defense on the wing.
• Dereck Lively II (Junior) – 7’1” Center
  A top defensive prospect who went one-and-done, Lively would still be anchoring the paint for Duke, swatting shots and catching lobs.
• Kyle Filipowski (Junior) – 7’0” Forward
  Already a dominant college big man, Filipowski would only get better with more experience. A frontcourt featuring him and Banchero would be nearly unstoppable.
• Tyrese Proctor (Junior) – 6’5” Guard
  A gifted playmaker and defender, Proctor would be the steady hand running Duke’s offense. With elite weapons around him, he’d be an assist machine.
• Jared McCain (Sophomore) – 6’3” Guard
  As one of Duke’s top young guards, McCain would provide an offensive spark and sharpshooting from deep.

This roster would be scary—a perfect mix of experience, NBA talent, and elite college development.

How Would This Change College Basketball?

If every player had to stay four years, programs like Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas would dominate even more. Instead of freshmen leading the way, teams would be built around experienced, NBA-ready stars who had years to develop in the college system.

At the same time, the NBA would look completely different. Young prospects wouldn’t be thrown into the league after just one year, potentially leading to more polished rookies but fewer breakout young stars.

Would This Be Good for the Game?

There’s an ongoing debate about whether players should be required to stay in college longer. While a four-year rule would make NCAA basketball even more competitive, it could also limit players’ earning potential and delay their professional careers.

But one thing’s for sure—if players stayed for four years, Duke’s 2024-25 squad would be an all-time powerhouse. Would anyone be able to stop them?