Two Duke Blue Devils standouts have declared plans to take their abilities to the next level. Kyle Filipowski, a Duke standout and expected first-round choice, and guard Jared McCain have declared for the 2024 NBA draft.
Filipowski announced his decision on X Friday morning.
Always love 💙 pic.twitter.com/LF1W1iFY8K
— Kyle “Flip” Filipowski (@kylefilipowski) April 12, 2024
The seven-foot center thanked Duke, his coaches, teammates, and everyone else who supported him along the road. The sophomore played 72 games for the Blue Devils throughout his college career.
McCain, too, declared via X that he will enter the NBA Draft. He released a video of some of his favorite experiences on the court at Duke, along with a note with the title ‘Thank You, Duke.’ Here’s what McCain said in his statement.
Thank you Duke 💙💙 pic.twitter.com/f37CYRlH7S
— Jared Mccain (@J_mccain_24) April 12, 2024
“I’ve always been a dream chaser. I’ve always been one to achieve my goals. And the next one is the NBA,” Jared McCain stated in a video. “With that being said, I will be entering my name into the 2024 NBA draft.”
In 36 games from 2023 to 2024, the sophomore center averaged 16.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.5 blocks. His improvement as a three-point shooter transformed his game. His percentage increased by six points, from 28% in his freshman season to 34% in his second season. According to Bleacher Report, Filipowski will be a lottery pick, going 13th overall to the Portland Trail Blazers.
McCain had a very good freshman season. He enrolled at Duke as a five-star recruit from Corona, California. In 36 games, the freshman guard averaged 14.3 points, 46.2% shooting, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists. The 20-year-old led the Blue Devils with 5.8 three-point attempts per game, shooting 41.4% from beyond the arc.
Although the Blue Devils’ season did not end as they had hoped, McCain finished strong, scoring 32 points, six rebounds, and one assist in their Elite Eight loss to fellow ACC team NC State.
Their decision to join the NBA is not surprising given that most of Duke’s top players normally end up in the league. Filipowski and McCain guided the Blue Devils to their highest finish since 2022, when they reached the Final Four.
Duke will seek to flip the page quickly by signing Cooper Flagg, the top prospect and high school player of the year. Furthermore, Duke will enter the 2024-2025 season with the nation’s best recruiting class, led by Flagg, Khaman Maluach, Isaiah Evans, and Kon Knueppel.
Leave a Reply