CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, one of the most ubiquitous names in college basketball coverage, made his early prediction for the Blue Devils’ starting five after watching a Duke basketball practice on Tuesday.
Of course, top-ranked freshman [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] made Rothstein’s projected lineup, as did returning starter Tyrese Proctor. He also predicted that Purdue transfer Mason Gillis and two five-star freshmen, Khaman Maluach and Kon Knueppel, would end up in the first five.
Flagg enters the season as the presumptive favorite for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, and after he made waves at Team USA Olympic training camp as a member of the Select Team, he’ll be one of the most anticipated freshmen in years.
Proctor led the team with 3.7 assists last season, and he started 25 of the 32 games he played in 2023-24. As the only player within the rotation who has been with the Blue Devils for each of the past two seasons, he also makes total sense as a potential starter.
The last of the three obvious answers, Maluach was always intended to be a member of the starting lineup by conference play. The 18-year-old 7-footer could need some time to develop, so maybe he comes off the bench for a few early games, but considering that he already represented South Sudan at the Olympic Games, it’s more likely that he just slides in at the five from the start.
https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/1838702872638214611
The other two names are interesting, however.
Gillis made more than 46% of his 3-pointers with the Boilermakers last season, and the fifth-year senior provides a reliable perimeter shooting option. Returning sophomore Caleb Foster made more than 40% of his triples in 2023-24, so he could also be a candidate for the No. 2 spot, but head coach Jon Scheyer likely targeted Gillis with the intention of him starting or serving as a high-volume sixth man.
Knueppel, another five-star member of the 2024 recruiting class, has come on strong with his teammates and the fanbase over the summer. He looked great in offseason scrimmage content, and his teammates keep nominating him as the most impressive player on the roster.
Duke’s wing room is just incredibly crowded. Tulane transfer Sion James, a 6-foot-6 guard who averaged 14.0 points and 1.6 steals with the Green Wave last season, could be a big feature. Foster, who started games last year, could always slide into the backcourt if Scheyer wants more ball-handling. Fellow five-star freshman Isaiah Evans, who seems forgotten among the Knueppel hype, was named the best Charlotte high school basketball player from the last 40 years.
The Cameron Crazies can see whether Rothstein got it right during the season opener against Maine on November 4.