Sports | Basketball



Khaman Maluach wears a South Sudanese flag at Countdown to Craziness.

‘They just need opportunities’: Maluach, Proctor and the NBA Academies diversifying college basketball

In 2017, the NBA launched academies in Africa, India and Australia; Mexico received one the following year. These new institutions provide an alternative to prep schools in Europe and the United States — previously the most common routes for top talent from the Global South. The NBA Global Academy directly removes barriers for its participants to reach their full potential, whether that be in college basketball, the G-league or even the NBA.

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SPORTS | BASKETBALL

Column: Cooper Flagg is not the next Zion Williamson — expect a different type of impact

Flagg is widely projected to follow in Williamson’s footsteps by being selected first overall in next year’s NBA Draft, even before he’s played a single official minute of college basketball. Yet, the comparisons between Flagg and Williamson should end there. Not only are they two completely distinct players, but each arrived in Durham under wildly different circumstances. 


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SPORTS | BASKETBALL

In No. 7 Duke men's basketball's rout of Arizona State, returning backcourt duo demonstrates defensive prowess

Perhaps underreported in an analysis of memorable days is the gritty effort Tyrese Proctor and Foster, starting together for the first time this preseason, put in to make Sunday such a rousing Blue Devil win in more ways than one. They weren’t as flashy as Maluach or Knueppel were, but for a duo that may start every game this season, their mature performance — especially on defense — was everything Scheyer could have asked for.


Kon Knueppel falls on the floor in Duke's win against Arizona State.
SPORTS | BASKETBALL

No. 7 Duke men's basketball throttles Arizona State in Brotherhood Run charity exhibition

In a Devil-off Sunday evening, Duke men’s basketball welcomed Hurley’s Arizona State squad to Durham for a Brotherhood Charity Run exhibition game, benefitting the Duke Children’s Hospital. The Blue Devils, however, were anything but charitable on the court, and kept the ball away from their visitors to finish their exhibition series with a gaping 103-47 victory.


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SPORTS | BASKETBALL

Duke women's basketball 2024-25 player preview: Taina Mair

With college basketball season right around the corner, it's time for the Blue Zone to break down the 2024-25 Duke women's basketball roster. We previously looked at Jenessa Cotton, Jordan Wood, Louann Battiston, Riley Nelson, Arianna Roberson, Delaney Thomas, Emma Koabel, Vanessa de Jesus, Toby Fournier, Ashlon Jackson, Jadyn Donovan and Oluchi Okananwa. Next up is dynamic junior guard Taina Mair. 


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SPORTS | BASKETBALL

Duke men's basketball 2024-25 player preview: Cooper Flagg

As basketball season approaches, the Blue Zone provides a detailed preview of each player on Duke men's basketball's 2024-25 roster. We’ve already looked at Cameron Sheffield, Patrick Ngongba II, Darren Harris, Isaiah Evans, Mason Gillis, Maliq Brown, Sion James, Caleb Foster, Khaman Maluach, Tyrese Proctor and Kon Knueppel. Last, but certainly not least, is freshman forward Cooper Flagg.