Head coach Jon Scheyer lured four five-star prospects in the Class of 2024, a recruiting cycle led by phenom Cooper Flagg, and the Blue Devils have started three freshmen all season. Flagg, whom ESPN’s Jonathan Givony called the best player in the country on Wednesday, scored at least 20 points in 12 of his 23 collegiate games and took steps forward as a 3-point shooter and offensive facilitator since December 31.
The two other first-year starters, Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach, have shown flashes as potential superstars in their own right. Knueppel is averaging 15.2 points over his last 12 games despite not scoring against Boston College, a scoring pace that jumps to 16.5 points without that outing, and Maluach had back-to-back double-doubles against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Miami Hurricanes last month.
Givony and Jeremy Woo released a new NBA mock draft on Wednesday morning, and all three aforementioned freshmen came off the board by the seventh pick. See where they (and three of their teammates) ended up below.
2024-25 Stats: 19.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.3 blocks, 47.9% FG, 36.4% 3PT
The most dynamic player in the country, Flagg sets himself apart from other prospects labeled as generational talents with his ability to become whatever Duke needs in a specific game. He’s broken an ACC freshman record with 42 points in a single game, he’s taken only seven shots in a conference road game due to additional defensive attention, and he’s dealt four assists in the first five minutes of a rivalry game against the North Carolina Tar Heels.
2024-25 Stats: 7.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 72.4% FG
Maluach, with his 7-foot-2 frame and 7-foot-5 wingspan, has been one of the nation’s best rim protectors since day one. He’s efficient with the ball in his hands on offense, often scoring with one dribble or fewer, and he can capably switch out to the perimeter with his lateral speed.
2024-25 Stats: 11.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.7 steals, 42.1% FG, 39.6% 3PT
Each Duke roster needs a veteran starter to step forward in big moments, and Proctor’s fallen into that role comfortably. He hit two massive 3-pointers in the December win over the Auburn Tigers, including one near the halfcourt line at the end of the shot clock, and he scored 16 points before halftime to keep the Blue Devils in the game against the Clemson Tigers.
2024-25 Stats: 7.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.0 steals, 51.2% FG, 37.5% 3PT
James, to borrow a cliche adage, is your favorite basketball player’s favorite basketball player. He’s a Swiss Army knife for head coach Jon Scheyer, as seen in his statistics. He had 11 rebounds against Virginia Tech, eight assists against SMU, and 13 points in consecutive games against NC State and the Tar Heels.