Khaman Maluach

Maluach played professionally in South Sudan for three seasons and was named the 2023 Basketball Without Borders MVP before attending Duke during the 2024-25 campaign. In his lone collegiate campaign, Maluach earned ACC All-Freshman Team honors after averaging 8.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 21.3 minutes per game. The defensive-minded big man posted 71/25/77 shooting splits on low volume for the Blue Devils, who lost in the Final Four to Houston. Maluach didn't showcase much of an offensive repertoire at Duke and was limited to hanging around the dunker's spot waiting for lobs, dunks or putbacks. He showed a willingness to let open jumpers fly, and while the mechanics looked fine, the results were not there. Defense is where Maluach really thrives. At 7-foot-2, Maluach has the size and length to be an elite defender in the NBA, but he'll have to work on his technique to stay out of foul trouble at the next level. Donovan Clingan (7'2, 280) is the most recent player who shares similarities with Maluach, but the Duke product also draws comparisons to Hassan Whiteside (7'0, 265) and Mo Bamba (7'0, 231). Zach Edey (7'4, 305) is much bigger than Maluach, but it's worth noting that some scouts believe Maluach could develop a three-point shot very quickly post-college like Edey did last season, which skyrocketed his draft stock. Maluach is a developmental project with a high floor given his defensive projections.