Quick hits on the 2024 Duke recruiting class
It's hard to remember a class as stacked as the incoming Blue Devils ... aside from maybe the 2018 class that featured Zion Williamson as the centerpiece.
Duke is one of the few definitive “blue-bloods” in college basketball. Year after year, the Blue Devils rake in five stars in abundance and the incoming 2024 class is no exception.
Headlined by the potential top-two picks in the 2025 NBA draft, few classes compare to the one Duke has on the horizon. With that said, let’s take a quick look at each of the six incoming freshmen who make up Duke’s 2024 recruiting class.
Cooper Flagg, Montverde
Height: 6’9”, Weight: 200 lbs, Born: 2006
Flagg has been the consensus top pick in 2025 since reclassifying to graduate a year early back in August. There are many reasons why Flagg has garnered the hype he has: tremendous length and fluidity, one-of-a-kind defensive anchor potential and on-ball upside as shown last Summer at Nike’s EYBL where he averaged 26.5 points, 11.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 4.8 blocks.
In the handful of years I’ve been scouting as a hobby, I don’t think I’ve seen a prospect that covers more ground than Flagg defensively. He can switch onto guards, help at the nail, defend on the weak side, or operate as the primary rim protector, all while possessing all the complementary skills offensively with shot-making upside he’s seemingly just scratched the surface of.
Khaman Maluach, NBA Academy, Africa
Height: 7’2”, Weight: 235 lbs, Born: 2006
In the last four years, we’ve seen a big man with exceptional tools display defensive-anchor skills while showcasing “unicorn” talent on offense: Evan Mobley, Chet Holmgren, Victor Wembanyama and Alexandre Sarr. Maluach will look to fill that mold in 2025.
Even in today’s era of skilled big men, it’s hard to find one with the sheer size and fluidity of Maluach, who possesses big hands, long arms and broad shoulders. On top of the physicals and defensive presence, he’s a fantastic lob target with a massive catch radius and has even flashed as a shooter above the break and in pick-and-pop situations. His passing has also been a bright spot within the flow of offensive possessions, as well.
Isaiah Evans, North Mecklenburg
Height: 6’6”, Weight: 170 lbs, Born: 2005
It isn’t hard to see why Evans has drawn comparisons to Pelicans star Brandon Ingram with his thin frame and tough shot-making capabilities. Evans is a smooth scoring-minded wing with a knockdown jump shot. At the high school level, he’s functioned well as a primary creator, but as he plays up with and against more talent, it could be reasonable to say he scales down a bit.
That’s not to say Evans isn’t good enough to continue to be a primary in the future, but as of right now, the lack of multi-level playmaking flashes keeps what he can do on the ball a bit limited.
Kon Knueppel, Wisconsin Lutheran
Height: 6’6”, Weight: 210 lbs, Born: 2005
Knueppel might just be one of the most complete shooters in the high school class of 2024. He has quick, compact and balanced mechanics from top to bottom leading to a clean transfer of energy, and ultimately a high percentage from three. Knueppel is more than just the standstill shooter, though. He’s a tad on the slower side but attacks closeouts concisely and has a great midrange game. He’s shown excellence screening for guards or flaring out in stack pick and roll as well.
Knueppel’s frame is broad and a bit unrefined, but he’s more than willing to use it to carve out position inside the arc and has made a habit of initiating contact down low to get space for layups. Defensively, size and athleticism limit his impact, but he’s sound and has a bit of a scrap.
Patrick Ngongba II, Paul VI Catholic
Height: 7’0”, Weight: 235 lbs, Born: 2006
While having been sidelined this season with a broken bone in his foot, Ngongba projects to be one of the more dominant offensive prospects at his position in this class. He’s long and mobile with a growing arsenal of quick moves around the basket. He’s also flashed as a passer and shooter, shooting well from three on sparing attempts over the Summer.
Defensively, while he likely won’t be an anchor, his length gives him a good basis to build off. He has a quick second jump and good instincts despite not being the greatest leaper or quickest mover.
Darren Harris, Paul VI Catholic
Height: 6’6”, Weight: 195 lbs, Born: N/A
While being the lowest-ranked member of this Duke recruiting class, Harris could end up being the foremost shot-maker among his freshman peers right away. Scoring is smooth and natural for Harris, possessing a beautiful jumper from the ground up, and showcasing the ability to attack a closeout instinctually.
In the absence of Ngongba for Paul VI, he’s turned into a complete offensive player going from a movement shooter with some versatility to a full-on weapon who scores often and efficiently at all three levels, as well as adding some playmaking to his bag. He should scale nicely in this stacked Duke class as well with his mind for moving off the ball. As it stands, Harris is one of the most underrated players in the 2025 class.
Love that you touched on Maluach’s passing. It’s an underrated skill of his and I feel like he attended BWB this year to show his improvement there specifically