Blue Devil Country

Huge Duke Basketball Recruit Announces Decision to Reclassify

Khaman Maluach becomes a 2024 Duke basketball target, but the Blue Devils already have a five-star center in that cycle.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
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NBA Academy Africa big man Khaman Maluach, the only undecided center on the Duke basketball recruiting wishlist, is reclassifying from 2025 to 2024, ESPN's Jonathan Givony reported on Sunday evening. The 17-year-old will be eligible for the 2025 NBA Draft.

He received an offer from the Blue Devils in August. And it's worth noting that the 7-foot-2, 240-pound budding talent played for 2003-04 Duke basketball one-and-done and fellow South Sudan native Luol Deng during the country's first FIBA World Cup appearance this past summer.

On3 ranked Khaman Maluach at No. 10 overall in the 2025 class; however, due to the fact he doesn't attend school in the United States, the five-star doesn't boast a composite ranking. Currently, the major recruiting sites still list him as a 2025 prospect, although they'll likely all update that to 2024 in the coming days.

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According to Givony, Maluach's other primary suitors are Baylor, Kansas, Kentucky, and UCLA. There's also pro-route options G League Ignite and NBL Next Stars, not to mention the possibility of remaining with NBA Academy Africa to become "the first player ever to be drafted directly from Africa." 

Meanwhile, the 2024 Duke basketball recruiting haul, No. 1 in the country, already includes one center in Paul VI Catholic (Va.) five-star Patrick Ngongba II.

Ngongba is one of five Blue Devil signees, along with his Paul VI Catholic teammate in four-star forward Darren Harris, Montverde Academy (Fla.) five-star forward and top-ranked prep Cooper Flagg, Wisconsin Lutheran five-star forward Kon Knueppel, and North Meck (N.C.) five-star forward Isaiah Evans.

Maluach and Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) five-star guard VJ Edgecombe are the only still-up-for-grabs 2024 recruits who hold a Duke offer and have not eliminated the Blue Devils from contention.

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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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