Duke University’s basketball program received a significant development as Khaman Maluach, a towering prospect from NBA Academy Africa, made headlines by reclassifying from 2025 to the 2024 class. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony broke the news, stating that this 17-year-old phenom will now be eligible for the 2025 NBA Draft.
This promising 7-foot-2 center attracted attention from multiple prestigious institutions, with Duke extending an offer back in August. Notably, Maluach showcased his talent during the FIBA World Cup for his home country of South Sudan, sharing the court with Duke basketball’s notable alumnus, Luol Deng, in the 2003-04 season.
While the major recruiting platforms currently place Khaman Maluach in the 2025 class due to his non-US schooling, it’s anticipated that they’ll soon update his status to 2024 following this reclassification.
Apart from Duke, Maluach’s courtship involves some other top-tier basketball programs like Baylor, Kansas, Kentucky, and UCLA. Not to overlook alternative routes such as the G League Ignite, NBL Next Stars, or the possibility of remaining with NBA Academy Africa, aiming to become the first player drafted directly from the continent.
This news amplifies the excitement surrounding Duke’s already outstanding 2024 recruiting class, currently ranked at the top. Patrick Ngongba II, a standout center from Paul VI Catholic (Va.), is among the five committed prospects. Joining him are exceptional talents like Darren Harris, Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Isaiah Evans, making this an impressive cohort.
However, Maluach and VJ Edgecombe from Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) remain the only undecided 2024 recruits who’ve retained Duke in their potential options, adding further intrigue to the Blue Devils’ recruiting landscape.
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