As Duke men’s basketball has rolled through the 2024-25 season, much of the attention on the Blue Devils has understandably shifted to Cooper Flagg, the newly-crowned national player of the year and the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft.

Duke getting to a 35-3 record and claiming ACC regular-season and tournament championships and a spot in the 2025 Final Four required more than Flagg’s transcendent talent, though, whether it was Tyrese Proctor’s steady hand at point guard, Kon Knueppel’s superb scoring and outside shooting, or Maliq Brown’s suffocating defense.

Then there’s Khaman Maluach.

The Blue Devils’ big man is one of college basketball’s most compelling stories. Born in war-torn South Sudan, Maluach grew up as a refugee in Uganda and didn’t begin playing basketball until he was a teenager, when a local high-school coach happened to pass by him, noticed his size and stopped his motorcycle to approach him and see if he’d be interested in playing for him.

Flagg flying high: Duke basketball freshman phenom Cooper Flagg named AP Player of the Year

FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA men’s tournament bracket, scores, schedules, teams and more.

In the years since, Maluach has sprouted, literally and figuratively. He honed his game and blossomed into a five-star recruit pursued by every major college in the country. Now, at 18 years old and over 7 feet tall, Maluach is a key piece on a Duke team two wins from the sixth national championship in program history.

What does his college production mean for his future beyond Duke? Here’s a look at Maluach’s NBA draft projections heading into his team’s game against Houston Saturday night in the Final Four:

Khaman Maluach NBA draft predictions

Maluach is widely projected to be a lottery pick in the 2025 NBA draft, with most outlets having him among the draft’s top 10 selections.

In most mock drafts, he’s one of three Duke players in the top 10, with Flagg and Knueppel also there.

Here’s a look at where Maluach appears in various mock drafts:

Duke vs. Houston prediction: Our pick for 2025 NCAA Tournament Final Four

Khaman Maluach stats

In his first and likely only college season, Maluach is averaging 8.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, while shooting 71.4% from the field, with many of his attempts coming at or near the rim.

Since the start of the ACC tournament last month, his production has increased, up to 11.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game over the Blue Devils’ past seven games.

Khaman Maluach height

Maluach is listed on Duke’s official roster at 7-foot-2, with a 7-foot-5 wingspan and 9-foot-8 standing reach.

Khaman Maluach age

Maluach is 18 years old and will turn 19 in September, right before the start of what could be his rookie season in the NBA.