The 2024–25 Duke Blue Devils wrapped up their season with an impressive 35–4 record, capturing both the ACC regular-season title (19–1) and the ACC Tournament championship before falling in the Final Four — a run that further solidified Jon Scheyer’s reputation as a rising star in the coaching world.
Freshman center Khaman Maluach emerged as a breakout sensation, and on Saturday night, he officially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft.
Early Sunday, Duke’s X account shared a video of Scheyer reflecting on Maluach’s remarkable impact.
“I’ve absolutely loved coaching Khaman. I’m really going to miss him,” Scheyer said. “He’s not afraid of contact — and honestly, he should still be in high school. For him to play with that kind of physicality and readiness at this level is rare. The way he adapted to college basketball so quickly is incredibly impressive. His best years are still very much ahead of him.”
Standing at 7-foot-2 and weighing 250 pounds, Khaman Maluach hails from South Sudan and developed his game at the NBA Academy Africa in Senegal.
Before arriving at Duke, he gained professional experience playing for Cobra Sport (South Sudan) during the 2022 BAL season, AS Douanes (Senegal) in 2023, and City Oilers (Uganda) in 2024.
In March 2024, Maluach officially committed to the Blue Devils. As an 18-year-old freshman, he averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting an impressive 71.2 percent over 39 appearances.
His standout play earned him a spot on the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Top 20 Watch List and the 2025 ACC All-Freshman Team.
With the NBA draft lottery approaching on May 12, it’s clear that Duke’s future under Jon Scheyer remains bright — and that Maluach’s professional career is only just beginning.
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