Duke doesn’t need Coach K to keep recruiting at an elite level. The Blue Devils’ next superteam is coming, and it might be their most talented ever.

Duke men’s basketball hasn’t just maintained its elite recruiting pull since legedary head coach Mike Krzyzewski finally retired in 2022 — it’s arguably gotten even better. New head coach Jon Scheyer landed the country’s No. 1 recruiting class in 2023, his first year on the job, with a haul led by three top-five prospects in the country in Kyle Filipowski, Dereck Lively, and Dariq Whitehead. His 2024 recruiting class led by Jared McCain and Caleb Foster finished No. 2 in the country, only behind Kentucky.

As he approaches his third year on the job, Scheyer has his best class yet. Duke’s 2025 recruiting class is so impressive there’s an argument that it’s one of the best in the modern history of the sport.

Khaman Maluach, a 7’2 center from South Sudan developing in NBA Academy Africa, committed to the Duke on Wednesday to fortify its historic recruiting haul. Maluach’s combination of elite size and strength, impressive mobility, and burgeoning skill level will make him a front-runner to be selected No. 2 overall in 2025 NBA Draft … only behind future Duke teammate Cooper Flagg.

Duke’s 2025 recruiting haul doesn’t end there. The Blue Devils also have commitments from No. 12 overall player 6’6 wing Isaiah Evans (No. 12 overall, per 247 Sports), 6’5 shooter Kon Knueppel (No. 17 overall), 6’11 big man Patrick Ngongba (No. 18 overall), and 6’6 wing Derren Harris (No. 50 overall). While Maluach isn’t placed in rankings as an international prospect, he’s widely considered a top-five player in the class. That essentially gives Duke five top-20 incoming freshman, plus another top-50 player.

The last Duke team with this much future NBA starpower was the 2018 team that featured Zion Williamson, R.J. Barrett, Cam Reddish, and Tre Jones. When you factor in the superior depth of the incoming 2025 class, there’s a case to be made that Scheyer just put together a recruiting class better than anything Coach K ever assembled.

The Flagg-Maluach front line is going to be absurdly talented. We ranked Flagg as the best NBA prospect in high school basketball regardless of class this summer, and as the second-best Duke recruit ever. A 6’9 forward with a 7-foot wingspan, Flagg is a dominant defensive forward with a terrifying combination of athleticism, motor, and feel for the game. His offensive continues to develop nicely, showing nice touch on catch-and-shoot three-pointers, the ability to attack the rim off the dribble, and make some fantastic passing reads. Flagg would be the no doubt No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft if he could enter out of high school. Instead, he’ll be a Duke one-and-done phenom on the level of Zion. While he’s not a Victor Wembanyama-caliber NBA talent, he only a cut below.