Duke basketball: Kyle Filipowski details decision to return as sophomore

Duke basketball star sophomore Kyle Filipowski detailed his reasoning for a return. 

One of the biggest decisions this spring revolved around Duke basketball freshman Kyle Filipowski and if he would return to the Blue Devils for a sophomore season or head to the NBA Draft.

By now, the entire basketball world knows that the ACC Rookie of the Year is back in Durham for another season but Filipowski explained why he made his decision on the first episode of The Brotherhood Podcast.

“I loved it this past year here at Duke,” Filipowski told podcast host, and teammate, Ryan Young.

“I know that once you get to this level business comes into play. You still have to enjoy the sport that you love, but also you have to understand there is a business side of it as well and that gets even more when you get to the professionals [level].”

The 7-footer averaged 15.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.3 steals per game on 44.1-percent shooting from the field.

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Kyle Filipowski returned to Duke along with freshmen Tyrese Proctor and Mark Mitchell while Jeremy Roach, after initially testing the waters of the NBA Draft, also announced his return to the program.

“A dream of mine has been to win the National Championship and I really don’t think there is any better place to do it,” Filipowski explained.

Duke was able to find its stride entering February to win ten straight games, including an ACC Tournament Championship, but fell in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament to Tennessee.

Duke basketball superstar weighed multiple options in major decision

It came as a surprise when Duke announced that Kyle Filipowski underwent double arthroscopic hip surgery after the season but he claims that never factored into his decision whether to turn pro of come back to school.

However, he did say that he would have come to a different decision if he never went to Duke.

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“Going into this decision, actually, I even said to myself and a few other people if I were to have gone somewhere else in college I do not think I would’ve stayed for my sophomore year.”

“I probably would have ended up going to the draft this year but because I had the year I did here at Duke and I just enjoyed it so much it made me want to stick around for one more year.”

Duke is expected to be a preseason Top-3 team and one of the favorites to win the National Championship in April.