Duke sensation Khaman Maluach, the towering 7'2" South Sudanese star, has declared for the 2025 NBA Draft. A projected lottery pick, Maluach dazzled with an elite defence, rebounding and finishing, cementing himself as one of Africa's brightest basketball prospects.
Last Updated on
April 27, 2025
Duke freshman and fast-rising South Sudan star Khaman Maluach, one of the most intriguing big men in NCAA basketball, has officially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft, the school announced Sunday evening.
A projected lottery pick, Maluach heads to the professional ranks after a strong one-and-done season in Durham, where he started every game for the Blue Devils and helped lead them to an ACC regular-season title, tournament championship, and a Final Four appearance.
The 7-foot-2 centre from South Sudan — who grew up in Uganda before training at NBA Academy Africa — averaged 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting an efficient 71.2% from the field and 76.6% from the free-throw line across 39 appearances.
ESPN’s latest big board ranks him at No. 8, and The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie projects him at No. 14 to the Atlanta Hawks in his most recent mock draft.
Maluach is one of the youngest prospects in the draft, not turning 19 until September, and he arguably has one of the highest upsides in this class.
Despite picking up basketball later than most elite prospects, Maluach’s blend of size, mobility, and defensive instincts quickly caught the attention of NBA scouts. His two-way potential stood out all season for Duke. Defensively, Maluach’s 9-foot-8 standing reach and 7-foot-6 wingspan made him a dominant rim protector. At the same time, his nimble footwork allowed him to switch onto perimeter players — a rare and valuable trait at his size.
Offensively, Maluach thrived as a vertical threat. He posted a top-10 offensive rebounding rate nationally and shot 80.6% at the rim, per CBB Analytics. He became a reliable lob target for Duke’s guards, especially Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 overall pick, routinely finishing plays out of short pick-and-roll actions. Although his post-game remains a work in progress, Maluach’s soft hands and growing touch hint at more offensive development.
There is also some optimism around his shooting potential. While he made just four three-pointers all season, his willingness to attempt shots from deep increased during conference play. Combined with his strong free-throw percentage, there is a belief among scouts that Maluach could one day stretch the floor — further elevating his value in a modern NBA built around versatile big men.
With his elite physical tools, defensive versatility, and flashes of offensive promise, Khaman Maluach offers NBA teams a tantalising long-term project that could anchor a front court for years.
