Duke basketball set to welcome 3 projected high lottery picks

In Duke basketball’s eyes, the 2023 NBA Draft may end up resembling 2019.

NBA Draft analysts Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz of ESPN.com rolled out their first 2023 mock draft this weekend. And followers of Duke basketball recruiting efforts ought to recognize several names near the top and in succession.

Of the top six that Givony revealed via a tweet on Sunday — the complete mock draft is here but available only to ESPN+ subscribers — three are members of the six-deep 2022 class that the Duke Blue Devils will welcome to Durham in the summer. At this oh-so-early juncture, here’s where Givony and Schmitz see the trio of future Dukies going:

• Westtown (Pa.) five-star center Dereck Lively II at No. 4 to the Houston Rockets
• Wilbraham & Monson (Mass.) five-star power forward Kyle Filipowski at No. 5 to the Sacramento Kings
• Montverde (Fla.) five-star small forward Dariq Whitehead at No. 6 to the San Antonio Spurs

The last time Duke produced three lottery picks came in 2019 with the following one-and-dones: Zion Williamson (No. 1), RJ Barrett (No. 3), and Cam Reddish (No. 10).

Duke basketball’s top-ranked collection at a glance

Dereck Lively II, Kyle Filipowski, and Dariq Whitehead sit No. 1, 3, and 5, respectively, on the recently updated 247Sports 2022 Composite.

Plus, the Blue Devils boast commitments from three more 2022 prospects: Sunrise Christian (Kan.) five-star small forward Mark Mitchell (ranks No. 13), Yorkville Christian (Ill.) four-star shooting guard Jaden Schutt (No. 60), and Oak Hill (Va.) three-star center Christian Reeves (No. 167).

ALSO READ: Duke recruiting class includes four Naismith contenders

Unsurprisingly, the 247Sports Team Rankings tabs the Duke haul, which will become the first to play for Jon Scheyer as a head coach next season, as the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class. The question is, of course, how long the top names will stay in college given their lofty draft stocks at the moment.

Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more on Dereck Lively II, Kyle Filipowski, and Dariq Whitehead, plus other Duke basketball recruiting news and views.