DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN/AP) – Another superstar freshman for the Duke men’s basketball team this past season is now making the jump to the pro ranks.
The program announced Sunday in a social media post that big man Khaman Maluach declared for the 2025 NBA Draft after helping the Blue Devils reach the Final Four. The 7-foot-2, 250-pound Maluach had until 11:59 p.m. Saturday to meet the deadline to enter his name in order to be eligible for the upcoming draft in June.
“His best years are by far in front of him,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said in a social media video from the program. “I can’t wait to see what he’s going to do because he’s just scratching the surface. He has an amazing base for who he is as a player, but that skillset is just going to continue to grow.”
The South Sudan native played a major role for a Duke team that won 35 games this season and advanced to the program’s first Final Four appearance in three years. He became a force to be reckoned with for the Blue Devils in the paint, averaging 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 71.2% from the field.
Maluach was also reliable at the line (76.6%) and made four 3-pointers to show the potential for expanded range. He still is developing his skill set, but his 7-5 wingspan and 9-8 standing reach offer attractive numbers for potential NBA suitors.
Most notably, he’s regarded as an elite rim-runner who used his length to finish off lobs for easy scores or to block shots at the center of a defense that ranked among the nation’s best in KenPom’s efficiency metrics, including with his ability to defend on the perimeter with Duke’s switching defense.
Maluach finished with six points and zero rebounds in Duke’s season-ending loss to Houston in the national semifinals on April 5. On the same day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the U.S. plans to revoke all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders effective immediately, leaving uncertainty about his future.
Duke spokesperson Frank Tramble issued a statement that night saying the school was aware of the announcement and was looking into the situation to understand “any implications for Duke students.”
Maluach is the fourth 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 as the favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick.