Who is No. 9 for Duke basketball? Meet Khaman Maluach, Blue Devils' star 7-2 center
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Players and legends explain why this Final Four could be an all-timer
Duke, Auburn, Houston and Florida all made it to the Final Four as No. 1 seeds and they explain why you shouldn't look at that as a bad thing.
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Duke men's basketball forward Khaman Maluach might be lesser known than some of his teammates like Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, but the true freshman is nothing short of an elite talent.
Maluach, who stands a whopping 7-foot-2, has seen his game grow tremendously since the start of the season, and he has played a key role for the Blue Devils all season. His play has also put him firmly on the NBA draft radar, with his stock soaring into lottery territory.
REQUIRED READING: Duke freshmen thriving outside Cooper Flagg's shadow when lights are brightest
The Rumbek, South Sudan native is averaging 8.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game on a loaded Duke roster and makes up the Blue Devils' big three of true freshmen starters that are all expected to hear their name called in the upcoming NBA draft.
Here's everything to know of Maluach, who's looking to win a national championship in potentially his lone college basketball season:
Who is No. 9 for Duke basketball?
Maluach wears No. 9 for Duke men's basketball team. He's a 7-foot-2 forward and starter for the Blue Devils.
Maluach came to Duke from the NBA Global Academy in Africa, where he blossomed into one of the top recruits of the 2024 cycle. He was the No. 3 overall player and No. 1-ranked center in 2024, according to 247Sports' Composite rankings.
Maluach also participated in the 2024 Olympic Games as a member of the South Sudan basketball team, where he played in three games but only averaged 4.3 minutes per contest.
Khaman Maluach wingspan
Maluach has a 7-foot-5 wingspan and provides perhaps the best length of any forward in college basketball. His shot-blocking and defensive potential makes him quite the NBA prospect.
Khaman Maluach height
Maluach stands 7-foot-2 and has a 9-foot-8 standing reach.
Khaman Maluach NBA mock draft
Here are the latest NBA mock draft projections for Maluach:
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