Duke signs Rice transfer Ifeanyi Ufochukwu

By JAMES MADDEN

Duke has signed Rice transfer Ifeanyi Ufochukwu, a source confirmed to ZAGSBLOG.

Ufochukwu — the 6-foot-11, 240-pound center originally from Benin City, Nigeria — played two seasons at Rice before redshirting this season. He will have two years of eligibility remaining as he leaves for Duke. Ufochukwu spent his high school career at the Covenant Day School in North Carolina.

In his sophomore season, he scored 28 points and collected ten rebounds, notching a career-high seven points against UT Martin. During his career at Rice, he was named to the 2024 AAC All-Academic Team and the 2023 Conference USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll. Ufochukwu is viewed as an advanced offensive player, having only been playing basketball for about three years. He has good feel for the game, advanced footwork and can score on the block with various counter moves, many scouts have said. His game still remains a work in progress, but Duke has added a big and physical center.

Coming off another Final Four appearance, Duke is looking to reload and make another run next season. Ufochukwu is one of now five additions to next season’s Duke team, joining Cedric Coward (Washington State) and high school commits, Cameron Boozer, Cayden Boozer and Nikolas Khamenia.

Duke also recently hosted four-star juniors Sebastian Wilkins and Braydon Hawthorne earlier this month, once again trying to add talent for the future.

Duke will return much of its nucleus from the 2024-25 season, but has also lost Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach and Tyrese Proctor to the NBA Draft. Duke is once again expected to be a national contender, with the additions of the Boozer twins and a strong supporting cast.