Latest news with #DukeBasketball
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Duke Center Khaman Maluach Could Be Worth Trading Up For
There's no getting around it: Duke center Khaman Maluach is an enormous human being, and his size is certainly on the radar for all lottery teams. But more so than his 7'2 frame and 7'7 wingspan, teams are intrigued at how the big man can produce for them moving forward. At Duke, Maluach was often an offensive afterthought who played off Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, primarily as a dunking spot center. Yet, there's more to his game than being just a grab and dunk player. Not only did Maluach convert on over 71% of his shot attempts from the floor, but he cashed in on almost 77% of his free throws, a major indicator of additional shooting upside. If Maluach becomes a pick and pop option, as well as being a strong interior finisher, his offensive applicability grows exponentially, which should further entice teams. That said, the 18-year-old is not yet much of a passer, so it would seem too optimistic to expect him to become an offensive hub, at least not until he's much deeper into his NBA career. As such, the best presumed role for the South Sudanese national is that of play finisher, which covers a wide variety of scoring options. Be that as a floor spacer, interior threat, or something in-between. As for the other end of the floor, Maluach is further back, but not to a point where one has to have great concern. While not much of a leaper, Maluach is so huge, he can live off his size in the initial years of his career, until he learns timing, rotation patterns, and perfects the rule of verticality. He won't block as many shots as, say, Victor Wembanyama, but he should be good enough at challenging shots that opposing players will think twice about attacking him head-on. As for his rebounding, it's not elite, but he's not poor in that department whatsoever. He grabbed 11.2 rebounds per 36 minutes at Duke, a reasonable number for someone who isn't yet 19, and who's still trying to fully understand the significance of his own size. Maluach is a player several teams should have interest in, and for teams in dire need of a rock solid center with All-Star potential, he might even be worth some trade-up squeeze. A team like the Chicago Bulls, who should seriously consider trading Nikola Vučević, would benefit greatly from a fresh start with a high-level talent, who can help shape their future. But given they're picking 12th, it seems unrealistic he's available at that time. Therefore, it's behoove a franchise like them to make some aggressive phone calls. Unless noted otherwise, all stats via PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Duke lands top international prospect Dame Sarr, who flashed in front of NBA scouts at Nike Hoop Summit
The top international basketball prospect in the world is heading to Duke. Dame Sarr, who excelled in front of NBA scouts at the Nike Hoop Summit in April, will attend Duke next season in hopes of eventually reaching the NBA, he told ESPN. Sarr, 18, called Duke his dream school, and said there was no better place for him to prepare for the NBA, per ESPN. "My ultimate goal is to play in the NBA," Sarr said. "There's no better place to prepare you for that than Duke. For me to be as NBA-ready as possible, and become the best version of myself, I needed to have both experiences." Sarr started his professional career at age 16 in the Spanish ACB league in 2023. He played for Barcelona, where he became the second-youngest player to debut for the club. Sarr, who is from Italy, also played for the Italian senior national team last year. In April, Sarr attended the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Oregon. Sarr, who is listed as a 6-foot-8 wing, started for Team World. He turned in a strong performance against star high-school players from the United States, dropping 17 points, 4 rebounds and a steal in the 124-114 loss to Team USA. The decision to play in the event caused controversy, as Sarr reportedly attended the event without Barcelona's approval. The team reportedly was on board with Sarr attending the event early in the season, but changed course after he emerged as an important player on the roster. Sarr told ESPN he didn't think it was right to pull out of the event, and attended the Nike Hoop Summit anyway. A few days after the event, Barcelona and Sarr released a joint statement announcing Sarr would not play for the club the rest of the season. Sarr said it was an amicable decision, telling ESPN, "We ended everything on great terms, and I still love Barcelona."
Reuters
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Top international prospect Dame Sarr commits to Duke
May 22 - Duke gained a commitment from Dame Sarr, the top international 2025 prospect, on Thursday, helping the Blue Devils to ease the sting of losing four of their top five scorers to the 2025 NBA Draft. The 18-year-old announced his commitment to Duke via ESPN, calling it "my dream school." "My ultimate goal is to play in the NBA," Sarr said. "There's no better place to prepare you for that than Duke." A 6-foot-8 wing from Oderzo, Italy, Sarr made his Spanish ACB league debut for Barcelona in 2023. Then 16, Sarr became the second-youngest player in club history. He had a strong performance at the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Ore., in April, where he recorded 17 points and four boards in 25 minutes against the top high school players in the United States, including future Duke teammates Cameron and Cayden Boozer. Sarr's commitment further bolsters the Blue Devils' recruiting class, which ranks third in the nation, according to the 247Sports composite behind only Houston and Arizona. --Field Level Media
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Duke Basketball Adds Size and Depth with Commitment from Rice Transfer
Duke basketball has taken a quiet but deliberate step in shaping its roster for the upcoming season by signing 6-foot-11 center Ifeanyi 'Iffy' Ufochukwu from Rice University. Ufochukwu, who entered the NCAA Transfer Portal after three years with the Owls, officially signed his financial agreement with the Blue Devils, as first reported by 247Sports' Matt Zenitz. While he's not a headline-grabbing addition, his size, experience, and potential upside make him an interesting piece for head coach Jon Scheyer. Minimal Production, Maximum Size Ufochukwu's numbers won't blow anyone away. Over two seasons on the court at Rice, he appeared in 25 games and averaged just 2.0 points and 1.2 rebounds in 3.5 minutes per contest. He played only 3.3 minutes per game this past season, averaging 1.7 points while shooting 42.9 percent from the field. He did not play during the 2024–25 season, using it as a redshirt year. Advertisement Still, Ufochukwu's 6-11 frame and two remaining years of eligibility suggest that Scheyer sees something that stats alone don't capture. He may not contribute immediately, but his physical presence is valuable in practices, and there's always a chance for development. Reuniting with a Familiar Face One notable angle to Ufochukwu's commitment is his connection to current Blue Devil Cameron Sheffield. The two were teammates at Rice and will now reunite in Durham. Sheffield, who transferred to Duke last season, has served as a reserve wing and provided leadership and experience off the bench. Scheyer may envision Ufochukwu playing a similar role, someone who enhances the team culture and gives the starters a quality body to battle in practice. Depth, Development, or Both? Historically, Duke has used the back end of its roster to stash developmental players or practice contributors like Kale Catchings and Patrick Tapé. Ufochukwu seems to fall into that category for now. However, his size and mobility hint at possible upside if he continues to improve. With two seasons left and no immediate pressure to produce, he has time to grow. A Strategic Move in a Changing Roster Ufochukwu joins Washington State transfer Cedric Coward as one of two portal additions so far. With most of Duke's 2024–25 starters expected to declare for the NBA Draft, Scheyer is carefully assembling a supporting cast that can complement incoming recruits and hold up in practice. While Ufochukwu may not make headlines, he could end up being a valuable piece behind the scenes and maybe more if he develops.
Forbes
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Cooper Flagg Offers Mavericks Precious Commodity Lost In Doncic Deal
The Dallas Mavericks pulled off the improbable on Monday. They had a 1.8 percent chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. But after moving up a record-setting 10 spots, they're positioned to add elite prospect Cooper Flagg. The Mavericks' president of basketball operations and general manager, Nico Harrison, could not have envisioned this when the team traded franchise star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Here was the reaction from Harrison and Co. as the ping pong balls bounced them an unexpected lifeline. The former Duke Blue Devil is among the best NBA prospects in years. He reclassified to join the collegiate ranks early. Before taking his talents to Durham, Flagg impressed as a member of the United States' select team while competing against the likes of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant. Flagg then led Duke to a No. 1 seed entering the NCAA men's basketball tournament. The Maine native helped propel the Blue Devils to the Final Four before falling to the Houston Cougars on the doorstep of playing for a national title. While his incredible season didn't conclude with cutting down the nets, he showcased an array of skills that project to becoming a franchise player at the next level. Flagg is a three-level scorer. He can create for himself off the dribble against top defenders, whether on the perimeter or in the post. He has exceptional court vision. The 18-year-old phenom utilizes his size, seeing over the top of the defense to anticipate and create passing windows and lead teammates open. He delivers the ball with touch and precision. Duke also trusted Flagg to bring the ball up the floor, especially in a game's later stages. As the defense applied backcourt pressure, head coach Jon Scheyer -- and Flagg's teammates -- wanted the ball in their star's hands. At the other end of the floor, the top player in the nation has the length, physicality, anticipation, and enough foot speed to guard NBA wings. However, where he will be most impactful is as a help defender. He has the tools to be elite in that capacity. Flagg covers ground quickly, eating up space to disrupt drives, deny passing lanes, and close out to contest shooters. His defensive versatility will allow the Dallas Mavericks to pair him with Anthony Davis and a center like Dereck Lively II or play him at the four. One can't rule out Nico Harrison making another bold transaction. Perhaps, he offers this year's top selection to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo or the Phoenix Suns for Devin Booker. However, franchise stars on rookie contracts are as valuable as it gets. Even if the San Antonio Spurs, picking second overall, are willing to pay a premium to swap draft spots, is it really worth passing on a potential top option on a title contender who could carry this team for over a decade? According to ESPN's Tim MacMahon, unlike Luka Doncic's prime years, Dallas is unwilling to pass on what's to come for Flagg. The top prospect in this year's draft class is capable of raising the Mavericks' ceiling and playoff longevity as a rookie before growing into an elite two-way player capable of following in Dirk Nowitzki's footsteps and leading the franchise to an NBA title. It's a prospect many fans in Dallas were concerned wouldn't come to fruition for the foreseeable future after trading Doncic. While some will be reluctant to return and others may not, if Flagg lives up to the hype, hope will get restored, and a championship parade may follow.
