2024 NBA Draft: Champions Classic Recap

The Champions Classic event had two great games that came down to the wire. What are some key notable takeaways from the game?

In the first game of the night at the Champions Classic, Duke defeated Michigan State. The freshman Caleb Foster came off the bench and dropped 18 points in a win. In the second game of the night, Kansas defeated Kentucky just narrowly as Hunter Dickinson had a monster 20-20 game while Kevin McCullar dropped a triple double. Here are the biggest takeaways for each team in the Champions Classic.

Duke Blue Devils

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The Blue Devils have a really talented team this year, especially at the guard position, as they have four quality guards that are getting legit NBA attention. The freshman Caleb Foster came off the bench and showed off his impressive shot-making and shooting ability as he shot seven for eight from the field and four for five from outside the arc. At the end of the game Foster hit two very clutch 3-pointers to seal the game and win it for Duke. The freshman will be looking to build off of this performance as he helped his stock a lot in this event.

Michigan State Spartans

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A prospect that really shined on the Spartans roster is Coen Carr. The 6-foot-5 freshman made some elite athletic plays on the defensive end and has shown some things offensively in the past that has scouts intrigued. Carr had three blocks and a steal versus Duke as he showed off his elite defensive playmaking ability. He also showed off his bounce for the single dunk he got in the game. The passing flashes he has shown in the past is enough to really consider him as a NBA prospect and draft candidate over the next couple of years.

Kentucky Wildcats

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The consensus top prospects heading into the game were clearly Justin Edwards and DJ Wagner, but the young freshman duo only made one field goal combined out of 18 attempts. They looked extremely poor but a prospect that caught everyone’s eye is Adou Thiero. The 6-foot-8 sophomore has gotten bigger and stronger from last season and made some high energy plays that helped keep the Wildcats in the game. The ceiling is very high for Thiero and is someone worth monitoring, especially if he continues to produce.

Kansas Jayhawks

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The Kansas Jayhawks have a very well-rounded squad featuring one of the best post scorers in college basketball in Hunter Dickinson. He played at Michigan previously before electing to transfer to Kansas and have a shot at competing for a national championship. Dickinson had a monster 20-20 game versus Kentucky. From there, Kevin McCullar notched a triple-double, showcasing his versatility on both ends of the floor all game long.

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