There are three projected lottery picks playing in the Final Four, and they’re all on Duke: Cooper Flagg, Khaman Maluach and Kon Knueppel. Let’s look at four non-lottery NBA Draft prospects to watch on every Final Four team:
(You can view KOC's updated rankings with detailed scouting reports for every prospect in the NBA Draft Guide.)
Duke Blue Devils
Tyrese Proctor, junior guard (rank: 24th)
Proctor was an expected one-and-done after reclassifying to begin his Duke career in 2022, which was Jon Scheyer’s first year coaching the team. It didn't go as planned. Nor did his sophomore season. Proctor not only fell out of the draft lottery picture, but looked more like a second rounder at best.
But as a junior he now resembles the player he was expected to be as a poised shot creator with excellent court vision at 6-foot-6, and the ability to drain 3s like he did in that 25-point game against Baylor last Sunday.
“[Tyrese and his family] had such maturity to understand it’s more important to be ready than to just be drafted,” Scheyer said after Proctor scored 25 points in the round of 32. “If I'm an NBA team, I'm going after him.”
And teams will. March is helping solidify Proctor’s first-round case. A strong Final Four could make him an absolute lock for a team looking for the next Derrick White, as a tall two-way guard who can hit clutch shots, make smart passes and defend multiple positions.
Sion James, super senior wing (rank: 45th)
The fifth starter for the Blue Devils is James, who transferred to Duke after four years at Tulane. He's made 41.7% of 3s, can initiate the offense and is a hard-nosed defender.
And pro scouts would argue that James serves as an example for why a fifth collegiate season can be so important from a player-evaluation standpoint. Because of the COVID waiver, which was tied to the 2020-21 season, James gained a fifth year of eligibility, so we got to see him shine at Duke. The proposed NCAA "5-in-5" rule — allowing five seasons of competition within five years — could lead to more draft risers like James. His fifth year, he was allowed to look like the type of glue guy who could carve out the exact type of role for an NBA team that he does for Duke.
Isaiah Evans, freshman wing (rank: 37th)
Evans has seen his playing time dwindle in March Madness, playing only a combined 16 minutes in his last three games. But as a sharpshooting wing who’s made 41.6% of his 3s this season, could he get a chance to stretch the floor for Duke’s offense against some upcoming stellar defenses?
Evans may not be quite ready for the NBA. He’s still underdeveloped physically, and he doesn’t do much else besides shoot. But he’s a player to keep on the radar.
Caleb Foster, sophomore guard (unranked)
It's been an up-and-down tenure for Foster at Duke. He was an expected one-and-done, but his development has been rocky. As a freshman, he was outplayed by other guards on the roster. And this season, he’s taken a backseat despite his ...
