Blue Devil Country

Latest Mock Draft Shows Only One Duke Basketball Product in Lottery

Duke basketball's Kyle Filipowski and Jared McCain aren't locks to wind up in the top half of the first round.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball forward Kyle Filipowski and guard Jared McCain
Duke basketball forward Kyle Filipowski and guard Jared McCain / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
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Picks 1-14 in the NBA Draft are of the lottery variety. And there's a chance that both early draft entrants from the Duke basketball program, sophomore forward Kyle Filipowski and freshman guard Jared McCain, come off the board among those picks.

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However, perhaps an equal probability exists for one or both of those Blue Devils to fall to 15 or lower at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on June 26. Plus, judging by the mixed results across the multitude of recent mock drafts, there's no telling whether the 7-foot Filipowski hears his name before the sharpshooting McCain or vice versa.

On Thursday morning, FanNation's Draft Digest on SI released the first May edition of its mock draft. It has Filipowski going to the Portland Trail Blazers at No. 14 (via the Golden State Warriors) and McCain heading to the Miami Heat with the No. 15 overall selection.

So, they're sitting in back-to-back positions but with Filipowski as the lone lottery pick of the two.

At least one Blue Devil has become a lottery pick in each of the past two years and in all but two (2020, 2021) of the past 10.

Meanwhile, it's worth noting that senior guard Jeremy Roach, who has announced his transfer to Baylor for his extra year of eligibility, remains an early draft entrant. That said, the assumption is he'll withdraw his name from that list before the May 29 deadline to retain NCAA eligibility. After all, the four-year Duke basketball starter doesn't appear in either the first or second round of seemingly any mock draft out there.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country 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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