Duke set to host NBA Academy 7-footer Khaman Maluach

Khaman Maluach, one of the top international prospects in the 2024 class, will make a trip to Duke later this month. The 7-foot-2 center from the NBA Academy Africa tells On3 he will taking an official visit to the Blue Devils on January 20th.

The big man holds an offer from Jon Scheyer and Duke, along with UCLA and Georgetown.

Originally from South Sudan, Maluach has been playing at the NBA Academy Africa in Sengal since 2021.

Maluach recently made the decision to reclassify from the 2025 class into 2024, where he is currently ranked as the No. 15 overall prospect, according to On3.

“I think I am ready to play at that level,” Maluach told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. “I’ve played against some of the top [prospects] in 2024 and 2025, and against pros in the FIBA World Cup. Playing against guys who are stronger and more experienced helped me realize where I stand and what I need to work on.”

Givony notes that Maluach is also generating intrigue from professional options like the G-League Ignite and the NBL Next Stars program. Givony mentions that conducting a postgraduate year with the NBA Academy Africa is also an option that would make him the first-ever play drafted directly from Africa.

“I want to go somewhere where they put my development first,” Maluach said to Givony. “Get me ready for the next step, but also winning too. I would like to go somewhere where I can win a championship.”

Khaman Maluach Scouting Report

“Maluach, who was born in Senegal, has long arms, and he moves very well, both laterally and vertically. The 7-footer was as good a rim protector as I saw, and, at times, he proved capable of switching and moving his feet with smaller guys on the perimeter. Offensively, Maluach tried to dunk everything within five feet of the basket, and he stepped out to hit multiple threes.

“In the game against the NBA Global Academy, Maluach had 9 points on 3-of-11 from the field and 2-of-6 from three. He added four rebounds, one steal, and a game-high six blocked shots. He will need to get stronger and continue getting caught up to the speed of the game, but with a September 2006 birthday, there is a high ceiling here.” – On3’s Jamie Shaw