Blue Devil Country

Expert Sees Three Duke Basketball One-And-Done Lottery Picks

The 2024-25 Duke basketball rookies could tie the Blue Devil draft feat of Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, and Cam Reddish.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball
Duke basketball / Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images
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The Duke basketball program has produced three one-and-done NBA Draft lottery picks in the same year once. That 2019 Blue Devil trio consisted of Zion Williamson at No. 1, RJ Barrett at No. 3, and Cam Reddish at No. 10.

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If NBA Draft expert Jonathan Wasserman's current Bleacher Report forecast for Jon Scheyer's third batch of highly touted freshmen proves accurate, the 2025 cast of Duke one-and-dones among the top 14 draft selections will match Zion & Co.'s count.

Wasserman, not to mention almost every other mock-draft craftsman out there, predicts Duke basketball freshman guard/forward Cooper Flagg to come off the board No. 1 overall. His NBA comparison for the 6-foot-9, 205-pound long-limbed centerpiece consists of a mix of Andrei Kirilenko (defense), Shawn Marion, and a 2020-21 Duke basketball talent in Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson.

Next up on Wasserman's mock draft is another of the Blue Devils' advanced rookie sensations in guard/forward Kon Knueppel at No. 7, matching his jersey number in Durham. Wally Szczerbiak is Wasserman's comparison for the 6-foot-7, 217-pound Knueppel.

And Duke's 7-foot-2, 250-pound phenom newbie from South Sudan, center Khaman Maluach, now sits at No. 13 in Wasserman's eyes (NBA comparison is Alex Sarr).

Plus, it's worth noting that Wasserman's mock draft, along with several of his counterparts elsewhere, sees three more 2024-25 Blue Devils joining Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maluach to break the Duke basketball program record of five drafted Blue Devils in the same year (most recently in 2022).

He has junior guard Tyrese Proctor hearing his name at No. 51 overall (NBA comparison is Killian Haynes), graduate guard Sion James at No. 53 (Cody Martin), and sophomore guard Caleb Foster at No. 56 (Jaden Springer).

ALSO READ: Top North Carolina Prep Draws Visit From Blue Devil Staff

Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI 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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