Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Recruiting: Five-Star Big 'Thousand Percent Committed'

Khaman Maluach is fully on board with the Duke basketball program, no doubt about it.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
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One week ago, news broke of NBA Academy Africa center Khaman Maluach committing to Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff. Somewhat peculiarly, though, the 7-foot-1, 250-pound five-star from South Sudan didn't advertise the decision himself on social media at the time, not even via a repost.

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But Maluach, No. 6 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, confirmed his pledge on Wednesday morning by posting four pictures from his February official visit, captioning them with "1000% committed" and the grinning-devil emoji.

Checking out the photo in the bottom right, one could say nobody has ever made the Duke Chapel look so small by comparison:

Sure, there's some work in store for Scheyer & Co. in helping Maluach prepare for the college game. After all, the 17-year-old's arrival in Durham this summer will mark his first time living in the United States, not to mention the fact he's hooped competitively for only a handful of years.

Nevertheless, he's a projected one-and-done lottery pick with the potential to be a game-changer for the 2024-25 Blue Devils. That's due to his 7-foot-5 wingspan, 9.5-inch hands, 9-foot-8 standing reach, impressive mobility, dangerously silky shooting stroke, and seemingly innate instincts around the rim on both ends of the floor.

Maluach, who chose the Blue Devils over UCLA, Kentucky, Kansas, and the pro route, further solidifies Duke's top-ranked haul. He joins five early signees: five-star forwards Cooper Flagg (No. 1 composite), Isaiah Evans (No. 14), and Kon Knueppel (No. 17), plus five-star center Patrick Ngongba II (No. 24) and four-star wing Darren Harris (No. 53).

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