Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Rookie Set to Rejoin Teammates Following Loss

Duke basketball's Khaman Maluach is no longer competing in the Olympics, but two former Blue Devils still have sights on gold.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball
Duke basketball / Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
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Khaman Maluach's time in France came to an end on Saturday. Duke basketball's 7-foot-2, 250-pound five-star newcomer and South Sudan (1-2) fell to Serbia (2-1), 96-85, thus coming up short of the knockout stage at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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As was the case in South Sudan's previous two outings, the 17-year-old Maluach saw limited action off the bench. He played five minutes against Serbia, grabbing two rebounds while attempting no field goals or free throws.

Maluach averaged 0.7 points and 1.3 rebounds in 4.4 minutes per contest. It was his home country's Olympic debut, thanks in large part to the efforts of the South Sudan Basketball Federation president in former Duke basketball one-and-done Luol Deng.

Now, the NBA Academy Africa product, who arrived in Durham earlier this summer at No. 6 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, will return to campus and rejoin his Blue Devil teammates, including five fellow heralded freshmen. They are gearing up for the start of the fall semester and the third Duke basketball season of the Jon Scheyer era.

Back in Paris, though, two former Blue Devils continue their quests for gold as they prepare for quarterfinal action.

Jayson Tatum, who posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds in a 104-83 victory over Puerto Rico on Saturday, will look to build on his best outing yet at the 2024 Olympics when Team USA faces Brazil at 3:30 p.m. ET Tuesday.

First, Canada and its Olympic MVP candidate out of Duke, RJ Barrett, square off against France at noon Tuesday.

The undefeated Canadians and Americans are on opposite sides of the bracket. However, it wouldn't be a surprise if both reach the gold medal game next Saturday.

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Matt Giles

MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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