Duke basketball sophomores add serious muscle during offseason

The Duke basketball sophomores have added serious muscle since their freshman year. 

At times last season, the Duke basketball team looked overmatched.

It was very apparent in its season finale against Tennessee in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament when the Volunteers were clearly the physically dominant team but the Blue Devils are hoping that doesn’t happen again.

The program released the details of its roster this week and it’s apparent that last year’s freshmen have been in the weight room this summer.

Dereck Lively and Dariq Whitehead made the jump to the NBA after just one season in Durham but Tyrese Proctor, Kyle Filipowski, and Mark Mitchell are sticking around for at least one more season.

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The 7-foot Filipowski was listed at 230 pounds last year but is now clocking in at 248 pounds, even after undergoing arthroscopic double hip surgery at the beginning of the offseason.

Filipowski is a likely contender for the ACC Player of the Year after winning the league’s Rookie of the Year this season.

Tyrese Proctor is up eight pounds from 175 to 183 heading into his sophomore season in which many expect him to emerge as one of the best guards in the country and be a top selection in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Mark Mitchell, Duke’s defensive enforcer who did not play in the Tennessee game because of injury, has added a good amount of weight as well, jumping from 220 pounds to 232 pounds.

Seldom used freshman Christian Reeves put on 16 pounds this offseason (245 pounds to 261 pounds) while Jaden Schutt has added just five pounds after being listed at 190 pounds.

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It’s always interesting to see how the freshmen are listed on the official roster and Caleb Foster‘s measurements stand out the most.

The point guard is listed at 6-foot-5, 197 pounds while Jared McCain is pegged at 6-foot-3 and 197 pounds.

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Both Sean Stewart and TJ Power are 6-foot-9 but Stewart has the weight advantage at 227 pounds compared to Power’s 216.

All four players are 5-star recruits and comprise the No. 2 recruiting class in the country, according to 247Sports.