Tyrese Proctor, Duke
Duke has recruited from Australia before; Jack White proved to a be a solid team defender and four-year player. Tyrese Proctor, however, is a different caliber of prospect.
Proctor grew leaps and bounds as a player, while developing at the NBA Global Academy in Canberra. As his stature rose, the relationship with Duke progressed, quickly. Proctor visited Duke back in February; at the time, he was still a 2023 prospect. Six weeks later, he committed to Duke over Arizona and the G-League Ignite, back in early April.
Initially, Proctor projected to join Duke for the 2023-24 season. In theory, Proctor would arrive along with two other 5-star guards: point guard Caleb Foster and shooting guard Jared McCain.
However, when Trevor Keels elected to remain in the 2022 NBA Draft, it opened a spot in the backcourt for Duke. Quickly, as the Blue Devils worked to add another secondary playmaker next to Jeremy Roach, Proctor reclassified to 2022.
Proctor is already a skilled pick-and-roll creator; he initially sets his sites on the rim, looking to get a piece of the paint and finish at the cup. However, he scans multiple levels of the floor, reads coverages and makes good decisions with the ball. Proctor has a good sense of where his shooters and roll guys (if he’s in the pick-and-roll) are located.
Proctor is also working on his off-dribble shooting profile. He’s worked to improve the pull-up jumper, and there’s enough craft and technical skills to create separation 1-on-1.
The reclassification is a bit of a win-win for all involved parties. Proctor provides Duke with a guard that can play on and off the ball, while avoiding a potential logjam with Foster and McCain in 2023. Of course, Proctor could still return for his sophomore season and play with those guys.