2025 Men's Basketball Recruiting

These are some glowing reviews for Cayden. Maybe he is our starting PG next year. If we could somehow land Ament and hold the following 9-man rotation together, could it rival this year's team?

Boozer/Foster
Proctor/Harris
Ament/Evans
Boozer/Ament
Brown/Ngongba

Bench: Khamenia, Henderson

Preseason top 5. Maybe it would have the offensive ceiling but not the defensive ceiling.
I think Jon has seen enough of Caleb to know he's not going to be a point-guard for a top team like Duke. Hopefully he improves and becomes a really good 2-guard. I look for a portal point-guard with a Sion like build and toughness. I know that's a lot to hope for though. My bigges wish is another year for Tyrese who wants to earn back-to-back NCAA Championships.

GoDuke!
 
I'm not sure if he's an NBA player or not. Wendell Moore had a better junior year and is hanging by a thread in the NBA. I love Tyrese. But the economics have really shifted between the NBA and collegiate players. I expect Tyrese can make $800k to $1.2M playing college ball next year.
Where do the $ numbers come from? Is there any REAL substantiation for Tyrese being able to make $1 million +/- next year? All I have ever heard is anecdotal. Also, what's happened to the desire to get to the 2nd contract?
 
Where do the $ numbers come from? Is there any REAL substantiation for Tyrese being able to make $1 million +/- next year? All I have ever heard is anecdotal. Also, what's happened to the desire to get to the 2nd contract?
Based on many reported numbers from across the sport last summer, I'm quite confident a player like Proctor would get 7 digits to come back to college next season, especially if the House settlement happens (and that wacky Title Ix ruling gets changed) allowing schools to pay players directly.
 
I don’t think that’s a good comp, all due respect. Wendell’s problem is he’s a tweener. He’s not big enough to play the 3 and he doesn’t shoot or handle well enough to play the 2. Tyrese is a 6’5”
Combo guard, so big enough certainly for the point and maybe at the 2 also. His shot is much much better than it was his first two years, he’s excellent at running screen/roll and reading the defense and making the right pass, and he’s an excellent perimeter and off-ball defender. He has a lot more NBA level skills than Wendell, and he has the right frame that they’re looking for on the perimeter.

I’m not saying Tyrese is a sure starter in the NBA but I think he’s a better prospect than Wendell and, more importantly for this discussion, I think he’s maxed out as a college player. The cake is baked.
I’ve said before, Tyrese should float Derrick White as his NBA comp. Defense, 3pt shooting, combo guard ability with similar size. Start out as a top guard off the bench like White, with ability to grow into a starting role at either PG or SG depending on who his backcourt mate is.
 
Hey guys, new to this board. Excited to join in the convo here and there.

IMO, Hubie was always going to get one more year. Apparently there was an emergency meeting called 6 or so weeks ago with Hubie and the cheat brass. It was after cheat lost a few games in a row. Hubie was getting asked what was going on. Supposedly he whined that cheat wasn't even in the T25 of NIL spend and that he couldn't compete for players. Allegedly, the old guard at cheat didn't want to spend that money b/c they thought the "carolina way" was still enough to pull in recruits. LMFAO!
Welcome to the board, that's a heck of a first post! I was chatting with a UNC friend a couple weeks ago (maybe I'll call him an acquaintance so I don't lose cred here) who said something similar - UNC tries to rely on their history and their brand and the aura of Jordan and thinks that's enough to attract recruits.

Now that they've promised millions to Belichick and the football program, who knows how much they have left for basketball. But it does appear they were willing to open up the checkbook for Wilson. Announcing in the middle of the night seems appropriate; after going to UNC casual fans will never see him again until he appears on an overseas roster five years from now and we all say to ourselves "oh yeah, I vaguely remember that guy."
 
I truly think we obsess over UNX a little bit too much. When they bring in 3 transfers at the level Duke brought in this year then they will be competitive. Until then, one recruit doesn't move the needle, especially if he's not as good as what will be leaving.
 
I think you're missing my point. Wendell was the 26th pick in his draft. Proctor is currently showing up in the 50s. Do you think Proctor is being underrated?
I do. Although not terribly assertive in college, he will do fine in the NBA. His defense, strengthened by his lengthy and lean NBA physique, will carry the day. His improvement in shooting this year is a big plus. All IMHO, where the H stands for hubristic. YMMV.
 
I don’t think that’s a good comp, all due respect. Wendell’s problem is he’s a tweener. He’s not big enough to play the 3 and he doesn’t shoot or handle well enough to play the 2. Tyrese is a 6’5”
Combo guard, so big enough certainly for the point and maybe at the 2 also. His shot is much much better than it was his first two years, he’s excellent at running screen/roll and reading the defense and making the right pass, and he’s an excellent perimeter and off-ball defender. He has a lot more NBA level skills than Wendell, and he has the right frame that they’re looking for on the perimeter.

I’m not saying Tyrese is a sure starter in the NBA but I think he’s a better prospect than Wendell and, more importantly for this discussion, I think he’s maxed out as a college player. The cake is baked.

Here's a table showing Wendell Moore and Tyrese Proctor (both in junior year). Can you tell which is which? Which seems the better shooter? Which seems the better facilitator? (heights and weights are as listed on Duke's website)

HtWtpts/40rebs/40assts/40stls/40blks/403pt%2pt%FT%eFG%OR%DR%Ast%TO%a/tows/40BPMPER
6'5
213​
15.8​
6.3​
5.2​
1.7​
0.2​
41.3​
54.4​
80.5​
56.9​
4.4​
12.5​
21.7​
15.0​
2.26​
0.186​
7.9​
21.4​
6'6
183​
15.3​
4.7​
3.0​
0.8​
0.2​
41.2​
45.6​
80.0​
56.0​
1.9​
10.0​
13.0​
10.9​
1.86​
0.181​
7.0​
14.4​

Both very good defenders. Eye test aside, seems like a pretty good comp to me.
 
UNC tries to rely on their history and their brand and the aura of Jordan and thinks that's enough to attract recruits.
And, ironically, the Jordan brand (subsidiary of Nike), which has long been considered by young athletes to be the premium sneaker brand, currently has 3 Duke athletes (Tatum, Paulo, Zion), while it’s been 16 years since a UNC player has been in the NBA All-Star game.

Also, they’re … cheaters.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Here's a table showing Wendell Moore and Tyrese Proctor (both in junior year). Can you tell which is which? Which seems the better shooter? Which seems the better facilitator? (heights and weights are as listed on Duke's website)

HtWtpts/40rebs/40assts/40stls/40blks/403pt%2pt%FT%eFG%OR%DR%Ast%TO%a/tows/40BPMPER
6'5
213​
15.8​
6.3​
5.2​
1.7​
0.2​
41.3​
54.4​
80.5​
56.9​
4.4​
12.5​
21.7​
15.0​
2.26​
0.186​
7.9​
21.4​
6'6
183​
15.3​
4.7​
3.0​
0.8​
0.2​
41.2​
45.6​
80.0​
56.0​
1.9​
10.0​
13.0​
10.9​
1.86​
0.181​
7.0​
14.4​

Both very good defenders. Eye test aside, seems like a pretty good comp to me.
Generally looks like the player in the first row had somewhat better stats/40mins.
 
Here's a table showing Wendell Moore and Tyrese Proctor (both in junior year). Can you tell which is which? Which seems the better shooter? Which seems the better facilitator? (heights and weights are as listed on Duke's website)

HtWtpts/40rebs/40assts/40stls/40blks/403pt%2pt%FT%eFG%OR%DR%Ast%TO%a/tows/40BPMPER
6'5
213​
15.8​
6.3​
5.2​
1.7​
0.2​
41.3​
54.4​
80.5​
56.9​
4.4​
12.5​
21.7​
15.0​
2.26​
0.186​
7.9​
21.4​
6'6
183​
15.3​
4.7​
3.0​
0.8​
0.2​
41.2​
45.6​
80.0​
56.0​
1.9​
10.0​
13.0​
10.9​
1.86​
0.181​
7.0​
14.4​

Both very good defenders. Eye test aside, seems like a pretty good comp to me.

Wow that's interesting. Thank you.

Some players get to the NBA and plateau and others really blossom in the more free wheeling game. Wendell didn't seem to develop his game any further. Grayson Allen found his niche and has done well for himself. I could see Proctor becoming a Grayson because (at times) he can really shoot the ball. We'll see.
 
Here's a table showing Wendell Moore and Tyrese Proctor (both in junior year). Can you tell which is which? Which seems the better shooter? Which seems the better facilitator? (heights and weights are as listed on Duke's website)

HtWtpts/40rebs/40assts/40stls/40blks/403pt%2pt%FT%eFG%OR%DR%Ast%TO%a/tows/40BPMPER
6'5
213​
15.8​
6.3​
5.2​
1.7​
0.2​
41.3​
54.4​
80.5​
56.9​
4.4​
12.5​
21.7​
15.0​
2.26​
0.186​
7.9​
21.4​
6'6
183​
15.3​
4.7​
3.0​
0.8​
0.2​
41.2​
45.6​
80.0​
56.0​
1.9​
10.0​
13.0​
10.9​
1.86​
0.181​
7.0​
14.4​

Both very good defenders. Eye test aside, seems like a pretty good comp to me.
the 213 lbs kind of gives it away
 
From what I’ve seen Cayden looks fully ready to be a starting pg at Duke next year. It will be an adjustment (like for all freshmen) but to me he looks ready both physically and mentally for the challenge. And he is more of a pure pg than anyone on our roster this year.

Add in the fact that he and Cam are psychically connected on the floor and make each other better, Cayden starting at point next season is a no-brainer. IMO.
 
Wow that's interesting. Thank you.

Some players get to the NBA and plateau and others really blossom in the more free wheeling game. Wendell didn't seem to develop his game any further. Grayson Allen found his niche and has done well for himself. I could see Proctor becoming a Grayson because (at times) he can really shoot the ball. We'll see.
Yeah Wendell is a 14% three point shooter thus far in the NBA, albeit in a relatively small sample size (5 for 36). I’m sure that’s a big reason why he can’t really break through. 2 guard has to be able to shoot it. I’d be shocked if Tyrese doesn’t shoot it significantly better than that in the NBA.
 
From what I’ve seen Cayden looks fully ready to be a starting pg at Duke next year. It will be an adjustment (like for all freshmen) but to me he looks ready both physically and mentally for the challenge. And he is more of a pure pg than anyone on our roster this year.

Add in the fact that he and Cam are psychically connected on the floor and make each other better, Cayden starting at point next season is a no-brainer. IMO.
Yes, I know the thinking of a lot of folks on this board is that Jon will wave his magic portal wand and land the next Sion for next season. He might.

But if Proctor comes back, Proctor, Foster, Harris, Boozer would give us four top-30 guards, all 6'5 or 6'6, who give us shooting, defense, playmaking. I don't think it's a given Jon would hit the portal for another guard.
 
Read all the opinions on backcourt next season. If Proctor gets paid satisfactorily he will return. Cayden has a big learning curve .
Caleb Foster could suddenly get his game back but I think the portal is the answer. A team player Senior with lots of experience. And a second guard from the portal for depth.
Finally a center/PF just in case from the portal. I assume Maliq and Pat return. Big men are in harms way underneath the hoop.
Maliq knee, Pat senior year at Paul VI. Injuries can come back to bite a team. Mason has become our Swiss Army knife.
First year Henderson has the same physique as Mason but not the maturity.
 
Last edited:
In case you were sleeping, here's the announcement -- at the end of TNT's late night "Inside the NBA":


Charles Barkley, over the closing credits: "Shout out to Bill Belichick!"

This would have been an all-time great awkward moment if Caleb Wilson had picked Kentucky instead. If you watch, a couple of elements here (not just Kenny Smith) were so skewed to a UNC decision that they couldn't have been used had Wilson gone rogue.

According to 247 Sports' Travis Branham, going rogue probably wasn't going to happen; Wilson had silently committed to the Heels in late December.

I actually enjoyed watching the announcement. We need more top caliber players in the ACC.
The Shane Battier announcement was much more enjoyable to watch.
 
Rosters for the McDonald's All-American Game have been announced. Duke has 3 players and 1 recruit that were named to the 2025 game.

Cameron Boozer, Cayden Boozer, and Nik Khamenia were named to the event. The Boozer twins will play on the East team with Duke recruiting target Nate Ament. Khamenia joins the West squad.

Duke signee Shelton Henderson was left off the rosters despite being a consensus top 20 player in the high school senior class.

The game takes place April 1st (no fooling) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.

 
Back
Top