No. 2 overall prospect Paolo Banchero made his official collegiate debut with the ninth-ranked Duke Blue Devils on Tuesday, and even earned a shoutout from LeBron James afterward.
Banchero produced 22 points, seven rebounds and two steals during the 79-71 win over the No. 10 Kentucky Wildcats. He connected on 7-of-11 shot attempts from the field, going 8-of-9 from the free-throw line. He had his mid-range shot working, while he also finished at the rim.
The first look at Banchero in a Blue Devils uniform further fueled the immense hype surrounding him. He showed why he is considered to be a potential No. 1 pick in the NBA draft next year after dazzling during his time on the court.
James gave Banchero a shoutout on his Instagram story after his debut.
Banchero previously took part in a photoshoot with SLAM Magazine where he is seen lacing up the LeBron 11s. While he didn’t wear those on Tuesday, instead opting to go with the Kyrie Irving 7s, James still gave him a shoutout on Instagram.
He took to Twitter to offer a wholesome reaction to seeing James’ post.
no way bron put me on tha story man sorry but y’all gotta let me be a fan for a second 😭 that’s my goat fr 🤞🏽
— Paolo Banchero🇮🇹 (@Pp_doesit) November 10, 2021
Certainly, to receive a shoutout from James will be a moment Banchero remembers for a long time. He watched plenty of James growing up and tried to take elements of his game into his own development.
He could even join James as an eventual No. 1 overall pick.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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