Key guard confirms his return to Duke basketball for another season in 2024-25.
With the No. 1 recruiting class of wings and interior players arriving this summer, Duke basketball received encouraging news regarding its backcourt on Thursday. Tyrese Proctor, who has started 59 games over the last two seasons, notified the coaching staff that he will continue at Duke for his junior season, according to sources familiar with his decision. Proctor, a 6-5 point guard from Sydney, Australia, averaged 10.5 points and led Duke with 3.7 assists per game as the Blue Devils finished 27-9 this season.
On Thursday night, at the team’s season-ending dinner, he was awarded the top defender. Proctor’s sophomore season ended on a sad note, as he missed all nine shots and went scoreless in a 76-64 defeat to North Carolina State in the NCAA Tournament South Regional final. His sophomore scoring average was marginally higher than his rookie year, when he averaged 9.4 points per game. Proctor also increased his overall shooting percentage (42.3% vs. 38.1%) and 3-point shooting percentage (35.2% vs. 32%).
However, Proctor did this despite a season hampered by injuries. He injured his right ankle in the opening two minutes of Duke’s 72-68 loss against Georgia Tech on December 2, keeping him out until December 30. He also missed Duke’s 76-67 victory over Florida State on February 17 because of a concussion. Proctor will play for Duke next season, alongside 6-9 forward Cooper Flagg, the nation’s best recruit, Gatorade National Player of the Year winner, and expected top choice in the 2025 NBA Draft. The Blue Devils’ recruiting class also features 7-2 center Khaman Maluach, 6-11 center Patrick Ngongba, 6-6 forward Isaiah Evans, 6-5 forward Kon Knueppel, and 6-4 forward Darren Harris.
One of Proctor’s classmates, 6-9 forward Mark Mitchell, put his name in the NCAA Transfer Portal on Tuesday. Another star sophomore, 7-foot forward Kyle Filipowski, is expected to enter the NBA Draft after leading Duke in scoring and rebounding for the second consecutive season.
On Tuesday, Proctor’s classmate, 6-9 forward Mark Mitchell, entered his name into the NCAA Transfer Portal. Another standout sophomore, 7-foot big Kyle Filipowski, is set to enter the NBA Draft after leading Duke in scoring and rebounds for the second straight year.
With Proctor set to return, Duke is awaiting decisions on its other starting guards, Jared McCain and Jeremy Roach. The 6-3 McCain, who scored 14.3 points per game and made 41.4% of his 3-pointers as a freshman, may join Filipowski in the NBA Draft.
. McCain, like Filipowski, is expected to be drafted in the first round if he decides to play professionally. McCain is still gathering information for a conclusion. Roach, a starter for the Blue Devils the previous three seasons, has one more season of collegiate eligibility due to the NCAA’s COVID-19 period regulations, which excluded the 2020-21 season from a player’s four-season maximum. As a senior this season, Roach started 33 games, averaging 14 points and making 42.9% of his three-pointers. Roach explored becoming professional last spring, entering his name into the NBA Draft pool, but withdrew before working out for any clubs or attending the NBA Draft combine. He’s not anticipated as a first-round pick and has yet to offer Duke’s coaching staff an explanation on
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