The Duke Blue Devils capped off an impressive 2024–25 season with a 35–4 record, dominating the ACC with a 19–1 regular-season finish, a tournament title, and a trip to the Final Four. Under head coach Jon Scheyer, the program continued to rise—and so did freshman phenom Khaman Maluach.
On Saturday night, Maluach officially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft, following a breakout year in Durham. Duke responded early Sunday with a heartfelt video featuring Scheyer reflecting on the 18-year-old’s impact.
“I’ve absolutely loved coaching Khaman. I’m gonna miss him,” Scheyer said. “He’s not afraid of contact. Really, he should still be in high school. To play with that kind of physicality and readiness is rare. His best years are ahead of him.”
Maluach, a 7-foot-2, 250-pound center from South Sudan, developed his game at the NBA Academy Africa in Senegal. Before arriving at Duke, he competed professionally for Cobra Sport (South Sudan), AS Douanes (Senegal), and City Oilers (Uganda) between 2022 and 2024.
He committed to Duke in March 2024 and went on to average 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 71.2% from the field in 39 games. His strong play earned him a spot on the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Top 20 Watch List and the ACC All-Freshman Team.
As the NBA Draft lottery approaches on May 12, Maluach’s pro journey is just beginning—and Scheyer’s Blue Devils continue to shine.
