Ideal start to the off-season for dukeafter a disappointing elimination in the second round of the “March Madness” last week since Tyrese Proctor will be back to play his “sophomore” season.
” It’s the best possible decision for my career, both now and in the future. » the young Australian point guard told ESPN. ” With coach [Jon] Scheyer, we share the same vision: that we still have things to accomplish. The staff will continue to push me up. »
Product of the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, like his compatriots Josh Giddey or Dyson Daniels before him, the native of Sydney had committed to Duke last year a year in advance, since he initially belongs to the class of 2023 , taking advantage in particular of the departure of Trevor Keels to the NBA to seize the position of leader of the program this season (34 tenures in 36 games).
A tall leader (1m96), he has shared his great defensive qualities and his sense of organization and tempo management throughout the season, while his offensive game still has an interesting margin for improvement (9.4 points to 38% on shots, 3.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 29 minutes).
While he would probably have been chosen at the end of the first round next June if he had presented himself in the Draft (ESPN ranks him in 30th place among the best “prospects” this year), he still chose to return to campus for a second season. To capitalize on its solid “freshman” exercise, continue its development and further increase its rating before a probable registration for the 2024 Draft and a possible selection in the “lottery”.
Within a Duke squad which is preparing to welcome a new crop of talented “freshmen” this summer, he will certainly be a leader on both sides of the field for his future teammates and will evolve in the best possible conditions to cross a Cape.
