[autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag] isn’t the only incoming Duke freshman with a standout performance against Team USA.
After Flagg gained national adoration for his performance as a Select Team member during the United States Olympic training camp, future teammate [autotag]Khaman Maluach[/autotag] made some headlines of his own during a Saturday exhibition against the American team.
While playing for his home country of South Sudan, Maluach’s teammates passed him the ball with open paint in front of him during the first quarter. The 7-footer snagged the ball, made it from the free-throw line to the hoop in two steps, and threw down a dunk to give his team the 18-16 lead.
Saturday isn’t Maluach’s first experience on the national team. While he isn’t listed on the national team roster for the upcoming Olympics, he did represent South Sudan at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. He’s routinely considered Duke’s second-best NBA prospect for 2025 thanks to his frame and shot-blocking ability, and Bleacher Report included him in a mock draft earlier this week.
Khaman Maluach runs the floor and throws it down for South Sudan 😤
USA-South Sudan | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/SjwO92aNPo
— NBA (@NBA) July 20, 2024
Maluach and Flagg highlight a six-person freshman class for Duke’s 2024-25 roster.