Duke big man Maluach goes into draft at deadline

Apr 27, 2025, 03:06 PM ET

Duke freshman huge guy Khaman Maluach is jumping to the NBA, where he might be a top-10 pick in the June draft.The Blue Devils

revealed Sunday in a social networks post that the 7-foot-2, 250-pound Maluach would go the one-and-done path after assisting the Blue Devils reach the Final Four. Underclassmen had up until 11:59 p.m. ET Saturday to satisfy the NBA due date to state themselves as eligible for the draft.

“His best years are by far in front of him,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said in a video posted to social networks. “I can’t wait to see what he’s going to do due to the fact that he’s just scratching the surface area. He has a remarkable base for who he is as a player, however that skill set is simply going to continue to grow.”

Maluach is an elite rim-runner who used his length to finish off lobs for easy scores or to obstruct shots at the center of a defense that ranked amongst the nation’s finest in KenPom’s effectiveness metrics. He also showed off an ability to safeguard on the border with Duke’s switching defense.He averaged

8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 71.2% from the field, though he likewise was dependable at the complimentary throw line (76.6%) and made four 3-pointers to show his potential for expanded variety. Maluach is still developing his ability, however his 7-5 wingspan and 9-8 standing reach are attractive numbers for potential NBA suitors.Editor’s Picks 2 Related In his lone season at Duke, Maluach was called to the ACC All-Rookie Group after playing a few of his finest basketball in his final month. He will be one of the draft’s youngest prospects, turning 19 in September.Maluach is from South Sudan and bet his country in the

2024 Paris Olympics. He signed up with NBA Academy Africa in 2021, participated in the Nike Hoop Top in April 2024 and was an ESPN luxury nationwide recruit.He had six points and absolutely no rebounds in Duke’s season-ending loss to

Houston in the nationwide semifinals on April 5. That very same day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the United States was withdrawing all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders, creating unpredictability about Maluach’s migration situation, though there have actually been no updates or changes to that announcement.Duke spokesman Frank Tramble provided a statement April 5 saying the school knew the announcement and checking out the scenario to understand”any implications for Duke trainees.” Maluach is the 4th Duke player to make an early jump to the NBA draft, starting with freshman wing Kon Knueppel and

junior guard Tyrese Proctor. Last week, freshman star Cooper Flagg joined the list and is the preferred to be the No. 1 pick.The Blue Devils will lose all 5 starters, with graduate transfer Sion James departing also, though Scheyer’s program has ESPN’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class as of January, led by twins Cameron and Cayden Boozer.The Associated Press contributed to this report.