The Duke Blue Devils made a strong run to the Final Four in this year’s NCAA Tournament, though they ultimately came up short against the Houston Cougars after a rough finish. Still, it was one of Duke’s most impressive seasons since their 2015 national championship. A key reason for their success was the standout play of their freshman trio: Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maluach. Knueppel has already entered the upcoming NBA Draft, and while fans await Flagg’s official announcement, he’s widely projected to be the No. 1 overall pick.
In addition to the freshmen’s contributions, Duke leaned on veteran leadership—most notably from guard Tyrese Proctor. Proctor was on fire in March, putting together a remarkable shooting streak and was rumored to be weighing a return. However, on Friday he officially declared for the NBA Draft, joining Knueppel and likely Flagg and Maluach in making the leap to the pros. In response, Duke posted a tribute saying, “League next. Duke forever. Thank you [Tyrese Proctor].”
Proctor arrived at Duke as a top-tier high school recruit and quickly became a foundational piece for the program over his three seasons in Durham. This past year, he averaged 12.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game, and delivered a blistering stretch of three straight games with six or more made threes between the ACC Tournament and NCAA Tournament’s early rounds. Across his Duke career, he was a consistent perimeter threat, never shooting below 32% from three in any season—a skill set that should serve him well at the next level.
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