The Duke Blue Devils made a strong run to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament, and although they were ultimately defeated by the Houston Cougars after a rough finish, the season stood out as one of their best since winning the national title in 2015. A key part of that success came from the standout performances of freshmen Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maluach. Knueppel has already declared for the NBA Draft, while fans eagerly await Flagg’s decision, though he’s widely anticipated to turn pro as the projected top overall pick.
While the freshmen played a crucial role, Duke also leaned on its veteran presence, especially guard Tyrese Proctor, who had an impressive shooting run during March.
Though Proctor had remaining eligibility and some speculated about a return, he officially announced Friday that he’ll enter the NBA Draft. He now joins Knueppel and likely Flagg and Maluach in making the leap to the pros.
Duke acknowledged his departure on social media with the message, “League next. Duke forever. Thank you [Tyrese Proctor].” A highly regarded recruit, Proctor quickly became a key figure for the Blue Devils during his three seasons in Durham.
This past year, he posted averages of 12.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. From the ACC Tournament through the NCAA Tournament’s early rounds, Proctor caught fire from deep, hitting six or more threes in three straight games. He was a consistent perimeter threat throughout his college career, never shooting below 32% from beyond the arc an attribute that should serve him well at the next level.
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