Australian point guard Tyrese Proctor has announced that he will forego this June’s NBA Draft and return to Duke University for his sophomore season.
The soon-to-be 19-year-old started in 34 games for Duke this season averaging 9.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg and 3.3 apg on .504 TS%.
The Blue Devils’ season ended in the second round of the NCAA tournament at the hands of Tennessee in a game that Proctor put up 16 points and six assists – both team-highs.
Whilst Duke won the ACC tournament championship under first-year head coach Jon Scheyer, there was a sense that the team underperformed relative to their roster strength.
Proctor – who was initially scheduled to graduate high school this year but elected to reclassify and arrive in Durham 12 months early – cited “unfinished business” as a reason for his decision to forego the NBA Draft.
“This is the best decision for my career, both present and future,” Proctor told ESPN.
“Coach Scheyer and I share the same vision; we have unfinished business. We have the best staff in the country and they will push me each and every day.”
Proctor made strides as the season progressed after an initial transition period presented some growing pains; through his first 11 games, he averaged 7.5 ppg and 2.4 apg on .449 TS%.
Over his final 25 games, however, those numbers jumped to 10.2 ppg and 3.7 apg on .525 TS%.
His three-point shot took some time to acclimatise to the American game – he hit on just 17 of his first 71 three-point attempts (.239%) before netting 30 of his final 76 (.395%).
There is reason to believe his improve shooting can translate to the NBA, where a guard’s ability to shoot has grown to be a near-non-negotiable.
At 6-foot-5, Proctor has enticing court vision, defensive intangibles, and offensive creativity which would have likely earnt him second-round interest in this year’s draft.
He has instead opted to focus on his development at Duke and will not be a part of the Australian Boomers’ FIBA World Cup campaign in Asia.
Proctor was born in Sydney and spent his junior basketball days with the Sutherland Sharks in the city’s south.
In 2021, he received a scholarship to attend the NBA Global Academy in Canberra.
His father, Walter “Dinky” Proctor, spent two seasons at North Carolina State University in the early-80s, winning an NCAA Championship under head coach Jim Valvano in 1983.
