Expert Sees up to Five Duke Basketball Players Bolting Early Next Year
The general assumption among Duke basketball fans seems to be that most or all of the four five-star rookies now in Durham will become sophomores.
But Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman suggests that the program's wealth of underclass talent on tap for next season could equate to things playing out quite differently for the Blue Devils when stay-or-go decision time arrives in the spring.
In the debut of his "2024 NBA Draft Top-50 Big Board" this week, Wasserman is notably high on five Duke basketball players. That group consists of three newcomers plus two sophomores most folks foresee leaving after the season in returning starting guard Tyrese Proctor and reigning ACC Rookie of the Year forward Kyle Filipowski.
Of those five, only one, first-year forward Sean Stewart at No. 39, sits outside Wasserman's implied first round:
"Stewart might not be one-and-done, but NBA scouts may still detect valued defensive versatility tied to his movement at 6'9", plus enticing fluidity/coordination with his face-up offense outside the paint."
At No. 21, rookie guard Jared McCain is the next lowest Blue Devil on Wasserman's list:
"McCain's shooting should earn him minutes and NBA fans. He's one of his class' top shot-makers, and he adds intangibles with his IQ and competitiveness. Creating and finishing inside the arc will be his challenge as a 6'3", below-the-rim athlete."
Then Filipowski, currently rehabbing from offseason hip surgery but expecting to be full strength by the opener against visiting Dartmouth on Nov. 6, checks in at No. 15, one spot shy of a lottery pick:
"Filipowski could have had first-round suitors in 2023, but he'll be back at Duke with a goal of improving his three-point shooting, scoring efficiency, and rim protection. At 7'0", the potential to stretch the floor, attack closeouts, create from the post, and slide defensively could lead to some dominant performances and draft buzz again."
Wasserman's second-highest Duke basketball talent is rookie guard Caleb Foster. Even so, Wasserman notes that he wouldn't be surprised if Foster sticks around due to the Blue Devils' potential logjam for minutes in the backcourt next season:
"With Tyrese Proctor and Jeremy Roach back at Duke, Foster may have trouble building a 2024 draft case coming off the bench. It may be safer to project a 2025 lottery pick, but the big board accounts for long-term potential regardless of draft year, and Foster's 6'5" size, creativity, and shot-making fuel dangerous scoring potential. He's not as convincing of a facilitator, but providing instant offense with relative efficiency — and showing signs of effective playmaking — could sway teams to reach early next June, even if his production fluctuates in Duke's loaded rotation."
Finally, Proctor appears at No. 9 in Wasserman's eyes:
"Tyrese Proctor started to look far more comfortable with his creation and shooting midway through January. And now there are breakout expectations...Lacking strength and athleticism, he'll have to finish more efficiently, and for an outstanding free-throw shooter (87.1 percent), 70 attempts in 36 games was too low. But for a 19-year-old, Proctor's smooth game off the dribble, shot-making, and passing IQ have scouts' attention..."
This offseason's "big-time recruiting wins" in Durham included the return of four starters, three of which might have heard their names on draft night: Filipowski, Proctor, and forward Mark Mitchell. The Blue Devils lost only two guys with eligibility remaining to the NBA, first-round picks Dereck Lively II and Dariq Whitehead.
If Wasserman's early projected stocks prove accurate, second-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his gang could be less fortunate next go-round.
Only time will tell, of course. As for now, all the heralded young Blue Devils sure look happy where they're at and determined to live up to lofty expectations by returning the program to the promised land in April.
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