Duke Basketball

Paolo Banchero apparently wasn't a fan of all the attention he received as a student during his lone season at Duke.

Appearing on The Young Person Basketball Podcast with R.J. Hampton (h/t TMZ Sports), Banchero said there were times last year the then-freshman felt like "a zoo animal" because he would see people in classes "whispering about you" and "staring at you."

The Orlando Magic rookie recalled one time when another student brought their family to his dorm to see him.

"I open my door and it's a mom, dad, their daughter who goes to Duke and, like, their little brother," Banchero explained. "And, I'm just like, 'Damn.'"

Despite the intrusion on his life away from Cameron Indoor Stadium, Banchero did speak well of his time with the Blue Devils.

"I definitely enjoyed it," he said.

There were a lot of expectations put on Banchero's shoulders when he committed to Duke. The Seattle native was a 5-star prospect and No. 2 overall prospect in the 2021 recruiting class, per 247Sports composite rankings.

Banchero led the Blue Devils in scoring average (17.2 points per game) and rebounds (7.8) in 39 games. He helped the team advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2014-15, but they lost to North Carolina in the national semifinal.

After declaring for the 2022 NBA draft in April, the 19-year-old was selected No. 1 overall by the Magic. He had a historic debut with 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists in Wednesday's opener against the Detroit Pistons.

Banchero joined Kareem Abdul-Jabaar and LeBron James as the only No. 1 picks since 1969 to have at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists in their first career game.

Former Duke guard Michael Savarino pleaded guilty to driving while impaired Wednesday, according to the News & Observer's Steve Wiseman.

Savarino, the grandson of retired Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski, completed 24 hours of community service and will remain on unsupervised probation for 12 months under the terms of his plea agreement. He also paid $300 in fines and will be due back in court in January.

Savarino was was pulled over last November after running through a stop sign. His blood alcohol content was measured at 0.08 following a breathalyzer test, which is the legal limit in North Carolina.

Former Duke star Paolo Banchero was in the car at the time as well and riding in the back seat. Per Wiseman, Savarino was driving a vehicle registered to Banchero, who faces a charge of aiding and abetting impaired driving that is pending.

Krzyzewski suspended Savarino as a result of the incident. The 6'0" reserve didn't return to the floor until the Blue Devils' 103-62 victory over South Carolina State on Dec. 14.

Banchero, on the other hand, was right back on the floor when Duke cruised past Gardner-Webb 92-52 on Nov. 16.

"It's two entirely different situations," Krzyzewski told reporters at the time. "Headlines make it look like it's the same, but it's not. The decisions we made are in conjunction with our authorities and my superiors. We're taking action and we'll continue to take action."

Banchero is now a member of the Orlando Magic, who selected him first overall in the 2022 NBA draft. Savarino transferred to NYU in June upon graduating from Duke.

One of the most highly touted prospects is off the board as Duke Blue Devils star Paolo Banchero was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft by the Orlando Magic on Thursday.

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Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report

Player: Paolo Banchero

Position: PF

Height: 6'10"

Pro Comparison: Chris Webber

Scouting Report: Powerful and skilled, Paolo Banchero projects as the draft's most pro-ready scorer. His ability to self-create, shoot off the dribble, hit threes and play-make carves out a path toward NBA stardom.

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Magic Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year)

Paolo Banchero, PF: Rookie Scale

Jonathan Isaac, PF: $17.4M (2025)

Markelle Fultz, PG: $16.7M (2024)

Terrence Ross, SG: $13.5M (2023)

Wendell Carter Jr., C: $12.5M (2026)

Jalen Suggs, SG: $7.5M (2025)

Franz Wagner, SF: $5.7M (2025)

Cole Anthony, PG: $4M (2024)

Chuma Okeke, PF: $3.8M (2024)

R.J. Hampton, PG: $2.8M (2024)

Moritz Wagner, C: $1.8M (2023)

Devin Cannady, PG: $1.3M (2024)

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Free Agents

Gary Harris, SG: UFA

Mo Bamba, C: RFA

Robin Lopez, C: UFA

Bol Bol, C: RFA

Admiral Schofield, SF: RFA

Ignas Brazdeikis, SF: RFA

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Banchero is a solid fit with the Magic as the franchise has been looking for a primary creator for a long time. The 19-year-old can create offense off the bounce unlike most of the other Orlando players.

Banchero was also one of the best ball handlers in this year's draft and will easily add playmaking to take the pressure off Jalen Suggs, Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony.

It wouldn't be surprising to see Banchero slot into a starting role in Orlando immediately. He could easily play alongside Anthony, Suggs, Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr.

With Jonathan Isaac recovering from hamstring surgery after suffering an injury during his ACL rehab, it's unclear if he'll be ready for the start of the season or how he'll fit into the rotation moving forward.

Banchero had an impressive freshman season with the Blue Devils, averaging 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists while shooting 47.8 percent from the floor and 33.8 percent from deep in 39 games.

He led Duke to an appearance in the Final Four during the 2021-22 season and was also named ACC Rookie of the Year.

Given his size and athletic ability, Banchero will be an instant difference-maker for Orlando.

Paolo Banchero believes he is the best player in the 2022 NBA draft because of his offensive skill set.

The former Duke star discussed his abilities in an interview with Zion Olojede of Complex:

"I'm able to do stuff that is not normal for people my size. Just the way I move, just stuff I'm able to do on the floor at my size is unique. I just think I'm a mismatch whether you put a bigger player on me or a smaller player on me to make me uncomfortable; anybody you put on me is a mismatch."

Banchero was listed at 6'10", 250 pounds during his college career but said he recently measured 6'10½" without shoes and that he has grown since starting his freshman season.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Thursday morning that Banchero is likely headed to the Houston Rockets as the No. 3 pick behind Jabari Smith and Chet Holmgren.

Even if he isn't drafted first overall, Banchero will have plenty of confidence as he gets to the next level.

"Just having that mindset that I'm the best player on any floor that I step on," he said. "Regardless of who's on the floor, that's just on my mind. I want to go out there and prove it."

Banchero showed his abilities throughout his lone year at Duke, averaging 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. He was the go-to option for a team that won the ACC in the regular season and reached the men's Final Four.

During the NCAA tournament, the forward posted 18.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 50.0 percent from the field and 52.6 percent from three-point range.

Banchero has certainly been a mismatch at the high school and college levels, with few players having the size or agility to defend him. Excelling in the NBA will be a different challenge, but he believes that the success will continue.

Auburn's Jabari Smith Jr., Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren and Duke's Paolo Banchero are considered the three best players in the 2022 NBA draft class, but one of those three made it clear Friday that he believes he's the cream of the crop.

Banchero, who starred as a freshman for the Blue Devils during the 2021-22 men's college basketball season, told reporters that he should be selected with the No. 1 pick on Thursday.

"I feel like I am the best player in the draft, and I feel like I showed that throughout the year," he said. "I feel like I showed everything with my skill sets and my intangibles."

Banchero averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 39 games last season while shooting 47.8 percent from the floor and 33.8 percent from deep. He helped lead Duke to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament, where the Blue Devils were eliminated by the North Carolina Tar Heels.

The Orlando Magic hold the first overall pick this year, and Smith is widely expected to be the first player off the board.

In his latest mock draft, Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman also projected Smith to land in Orlando, with Holmgren going to the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 2 and Banchero to the Houston Rockets at No. 3.

Duke announced Tuesday it has hired Rachel Baker to serve as the general manager of the men's basketball program.

"In this exclusive position, Baker will specialize in helping players enhance their personal and professional skill sets, capitalize on strategic partnerships, including NIL opportunities, and work to support players in navigating the opportunities and challenges that come with being a student-athlete at the highest level," a school statement said.

🚨 Our new General Manager is official! 🚨

Welcome Rachel Baker! pic.twitter.com/Spg3e6Urz3

— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) June 7, 2022

Baker previously worked at Nike and in the NBA. With Nike, she helped the company's Elite Youth Basketball League build partnerships at the grassroots level, and she managed "strategic initiatives" involving Nike signature athlete Kevin Durant.

Baker's hiring is a reflection of the new normal in college sports. Although schools can't provide name, image and likeness deals as a direct inducement for athletes to sign, the eventuality of those sponsorships can clearly be a motivating factor.

General managers have become especially popular across college football, where there's a heightened level of danger for Power Five programs to lose their best players through the transfer portal. Fred Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison left Pittsburgh behind for USC this offseason.

That's not as much of a problem for Duke because the Blue Devils' top men's basketball stars often leave for the NBA after one season. But first-year head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff clearly need to have a leg up on the NIL front in order to not only continue landing blue-chip recruits but also to potentially poach ready-made talent in the portal.

The basketball landscape is also different from football in that there are alternatives for high schoolers, such as Overtime Elite and the NBA G League pathway, that allow them to be paid while working toward the pros.

The Athletic's Brendan Marks explained how Duke "can’t afford to rely solely on the strength of its brand or legacy." He added the Blue Devils are likely to be a trendsetter since "this is a move that will soon be emulated by all of college basketball’s top programs."

Legendary Duke men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski criticized American politicians Thursday amid widespread mass shootings in the United States.

Speaking at SiriusXM's Town Hall with Coach K event (h/t Steve Wiseman of the Herald-Sun), Krzyzewski made mention of last month's mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York, as well as a 2018 mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue:

For us to see these kids get killed, members of our African American community get killed in a grocery store, members of our Jewish community getting killed in a synagogue. Come on. That's not right. That's not right. That's not right. I mean it's amazingly wrong. It's amazingly wrong. And you should be ashamed of yourself, if you are in a position of power.

Nineteen children and two teachers were shot and killed at a Uvalde elementary school last month, just 10 days after 10 Black people were shot and killed at a Buffalo supermarket by a suspected gunman who allegedly posted a racist document online before the shooting.

Both suspected gunmen were 18 years of age and used AR-15-style rifles in the attacks.

Krzyzewski, who served in the Army before his coaching career at Army and Duke from 1975 to 2022, suggested that there should be regulations against automatic weapons, saying:

The people that are suffering are people that need you. Like, why don't you? Come on. You know? What the hell are we doing? You know, we're not taking care of our people. And we can go into the guns. Like, you need an automatic weapon? You gotta be kidding me. You got to be kidding me. It's disgusting.

The 75-year-old Krzyzewski also called for less partisanship and more focus on policies that will help the American people: "You shouldn't vote for the party, you should vote for the people that you serve. And you should have the guts, the courage, and it's your duty. It's your duty to do that. We are not doing that duty at the national level when our country is suffering greatly from it."

Krzyzewski has never been shy about speaking out regarding significant issues in the country. In 2020, Coach K called for an end to systemic racism and social injustice in the United States following the murder of 46-year-old Black man George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis.

By virtue of winning five national championships at Duke, Krzyzewski has long been considered one of the best leaders and most respected voices in sports.

Even after retiring at the conclusion of the 2021-22 college basketball season after 47 years as a college basketball head coach, that remains true.

Tyrese Proctor, a 5-star point guard heading to Duke, announced on Instagram and Twitter Thursday that he is reclassifying to the class of 2022.

It’s Official 😈💙 @DukeMBB pic.twitter.com/8utqFbm7am

— Tyrese Proctor (@TyreseProctor) June 3, 2022

He joins the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, per 247Sports' composite rankings, giving Duke five incoming 5-star recruits in the class of 2022, including Dereck Lively II, Dariq Whitehead, Kyle Filipowski and Mark Mitchell.

Proctor was considered the No. 17 overall player in the class of 2023, the No. 4 point guard and the No. 1 player from Australia. It's unclear where he'll land in the class of 2022 rankings after his reclassification, but he should have an immediate impact for the Blue Devils.

The biggest concern I had for Duke next season was floor-spacing and perimeter shooting -- and Tyrese Proctor will really help in that area. Shot 43.8% from 3 in nine games with the NBA Global Academy in 2021, 37% in eight games with New South Wales U20 in 2022. https://t.co/NwILepA7Sm

— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) June 3, 2022

Duke's 2023 class remains incredibly strong, with three 5-star recruits (power forwards Mackenzie Mgbako and Sean Stewart and point guard Caleb Foster) incoming. All three are top-20 prospects.

Proctor won't be able to report to Duke's campus immediately, however, with The Athletic's Brendan Marks reporting that the process to get him the proper paperwork and visas is "ongoing, sources say, and there is no defined date for when it will be resolved."

That means he won't "arrive on campus this month with the rest of the Blue Devils’ top-ranked freshman class, but he will be in Durham by summer’s end—and, most importantly, eligible to play the 2022-23 season."

New head coach Jon Scheyer said in a statement that he and Proctor's family have been having discussions for weeks, ostensibly about a reclassification.

"Tyrese has a special feel for the game with great scoring instincts who will add to the versatility, competitiveness, and high character of this team," he added. "He is such an advanced player with an international basketball resume that includes his NBA Global Academy experience who is more than ready to take on this opportunity right now."

Alongside a loaded class of 2022, the Blue Devils have added transfers Kale Catchings and Ryan Young, while Jeremy Roach, Jaylen Blakes and Joey Baker will return from last year's Final Four team.

The Blue Devils are shaping up to be a problem next season.

Duke wing Trevor Keels plans to keep his name in the NBA draft, per ESPN's Jonathan Givony.

The 6'3", 224-pound Keels averaged 11.5 points on 41.9 percent shooting, 3.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game in his lone season for the Blue Devils, who reached the Final Four this past season.

Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report has Keels going 37th overall to the Sacramento Kings in his latest mock draft. He also ranked Keels 40th in his last big board.

Keels had difficulty during athletic testing, as he finished with a bottom-three result in the standing vert (tied) and shuttle run. Regardless, the draw to Keels has always been his positional strength and versatility for pick-and-roll ball-handling, spot-up shooting potential and defending multiple positions.

Most big boards have Keels either slotted in the back end of the first round or the top half of the second, including ESPN (27th), The Ringer (32nd), CBS Sports (43rd) and NBADraft.net (44th).

Duke players should go early and often in the NBA draft. Paolo Banchero, AJ Griffin and Mark Williams are projected lottery picks, while Wendell Moore Jr. and Keels could end up in Round 1.

This year's draft is scheduled for Thursday, June 23 at Brooklyn, New York's Barclays Center.