Duke’s 7-Foot Sensation: Khaman Maluach Rockets Into Top 3 NBA Draft Conversation After Electrifying Pre-Draft Showcase
- Durham, NC — Just five years after first picking up a basketball, 18-year-old Duke center Khaman Maluach is making serious waves in NBA circles—and now, he’s being mentioned in the same breath as fellow Blue Devil and projected No. 1 overall pick, Cooper Flagg. After an impressive performance in the early stages of the pre-draft process, Maluach is turning heads and rocketing up draft boards, with some now projecting the towering 7-foot-2 freshman as a potential top-three pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The buzz around Maluach gained momentum following a high-profile endorsement from ESPN’s NBA Draft analyst Jonathan Givony, who shared glowing praise for the South Sudan native’s rapid development and pre-draft workout footage. “Projected top-10 pick Khaman Maluach looks fantastic working out in the pre-draft process,” Givony noted, highlighting the 250-pound big man’s improved footwork, agility, and overall polish. “He’s moving and getting off the floor extremely well, and made significant gains with his skill level, footwork, and touch over the past year at Duke.”
That praise was more than enough to excite the Duke basketball faithful. The program’s official social media account quickly joined the conversation, confidently labeling Maluach a “Top 3 pick,” echoing sentiments that are quickly spreading across the basketball world.
And it’s not hard to see why.
Maluach’s emergence this season was nothing short of remarkable. A late bloomer by most basketball standards, he became a fixture in Jon Scheyer’s starting lineup from day one, starting all 39 games for a Duke team that finished with an impressive 35-4 record and reached the Final Four. Though not always the focal point of the offense, Maluach made his presence known with elite efficiency and rim protection.
In just 21.2 minutes per game, he averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks, shooting an astounding 71.2 percent from the field and an impressive 76.6 percent from the free-throw line. Those numbers reflect a player who maximized every opportunity on the court—especially remarkable for someone still relatively new to the game.
More than just stats, it was Maluach’s growth over the course of the season that has NBA scouts intrigued. Once considered a raw prospect with potential, he now boasts refined post moves, improved lateral quickness, and growing confidence in short jumpers and mid-range touch. His towering presence in the paint, combined with agile movement and a developing offensive toolkit, positions him as one of the most intriguing big men in this year’s draft class.
What makes his story even more compelling is his origin. Born in South Sudan and raised through hardship and limited resources, Maluach didn’t begin playing organized basketball until his early teens. His journey—from a war-torn region to one of the brightest stages in college basketball and now to the verge of NBA stardom—adds a layer of inspiration to his already captivating rise.
Despite being in the shadow of Cooper Flagg for much of the season, Maluach has quietly carved out his own path toward greatness. While Flagg remains the consensus favorite to go No. 1 overall in the upcoming draft, Maluach’s recent surge now places him firmly in the conversation for a top-three selection. That rise could create one of the most dominant draft duos in recent memory, with Duke potentially boasting multiple lottery picks in the same class—an achievement that would underscore the strength of Jon Scheyer’s recruiting and development pipeline.
Analysts have also begun comparing Maluach’s trajectory to that of NBA stars like Rudy Gobert and Jaren Jackson Jr., noting his defensive upside and developing offensive versatility. If his growth continues at its current pace during the lead-up to the draft, it’s not inconceivable that Maluach could leapfrog other prospects and solidify his position among the top three selections.
For now, all eyes will be on Maluach as he continues through the draft process. Private workouts, team interviews, and the NBA Combine will give teams a closer look at the teenager who has taken the basketball world by storm. With his combination of size, athleticism, humility, and sky-high potential, Khaman Maluach is no longer just a promising freshman—he’s a name every NBA front office is circling in bold ink.
And if the Duke basketball program’s prediction holds true, fans across the world may soon see two Blue Devils headlining the 2025 NBA Draft in Brooklyn.
