2021 NBA draft prospect David Duke Jr. worth a look from Celtics

With the 45th pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, the Celtics could look no further than an hour down the road for an impact player.

With the 45th pick in the upcoming NBA draft, the Celtics could look no further than an hour down the road from TD Garden for an impact player in the second round. Forbes Sports’ Chris Grenham reported that Providence’s David Duke Jr., a 2021 NBA Draft prospect, has “thought about playing in Boston.”

“Being a hometown kid, I definitely had dreams of playing for the Celtics one day,” Duke Jr. told Grenham. Hometown kid is right. Duke Jr. was born in Providence, went to high school at Providence’s Classical High before transferring to Cushing Academy in Massachusetts, and then returned to his birthplace for three years at Providence College.

But the 6-foot-5, 205-pound guard is more than just a local. Duke Jr. was named to the All-Big East Second Team in his junior season at Providence, averaging about 17 points and 5 assists a game, before declaring for the draft.