Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball: Expert Sees Two Top-10 NBA Draft Prospects in Durham

Expectations are becoming loftier for a pair of Duke basketball sophomores.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball (Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports)
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In the past 10 years, Duke basketball has produced nine top-10 NBA Draft picks: Jabari Parker, Jahlil Okafor, Brandon Ingram, Jayson Tatum, Wendell Carter Jr., Marvin Bagley III, Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, and Paolo Banchero. That's an average of almost one per year.

RELATED: List of Duke's All-Time First-Round NBA Draft Picks

No Blue Devils heard their name that soon this summer, albeit one was close. Dereck Lively II went No. 12 overall and is now entering his rookie year with the Dallas Mavericks, and fellow one-and-done Dariq Whitehead came off the board 10 spots later to the Brooklyn Nets.

So, perhaps Duke basketball is due for another top-10 pick next year.

And in the eyes of CBS Sports' Kyle Boone, who recently released his first ranking of the top-10 draft prospects with only about six weeks until the college basketball season gets underway, two 2023-24 Blue Devils, sophomores Kyle Filipowski and Tyrese Proctor, are among those projected to go that high.

Boone places Tyrese Proctor at No. 8 overall. The 6-foot-5, 185-pound guard from Australia gradually gained confidence as the 2022-23 campaign progressed and looks in line to pick up where he left off as the full-time starting floor general under second-year head coach Jon Scheyer.

Kyle Filipowski is No. 10 on Boone's list. As the reigning ACC Rookie of the Year, ACC Tournament MVP, and leading scorer and rebounder for Duke at 15.1 points and 9.0 boards per game, the 7-foot, 250-pound forward (now back to five-on-five action in practice after recovering from offseason hip surgery) will be in the spotlight again.

The Duke basketball program and reigning national champion UConn are the only two with two players in Boone's early top 10. The Huskies' representatives there are rookie guard Stephon Castle at No. 4 and sophomore center Donovan Clingan at No. 5.

However, it's worth pointing out that G League Ignite boasts three projected top-10 picks: forward Ron Holland at No. 2, forward Matas Buzelis at No. 6, and forward Izan Almansa at No. 9. Meanwhile, the top spot belongs to a first-year Kentucky talent in forward Justin Edwards.

RELATED: List of Every Blue Devil Currently in the NBA

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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