The top-ranked center of the 2024 class is set to compete in the Paris Olympics this summer before joining Duke University for the upcoming season.

Duke’s head coach, Jon Scheyer, has secured the nation’s top recruiting class for the second time in three seasons by finalizing the signing of the last member of the 2024 class this week.

Khaman Maluach, a five-star prospect and the top-ranked center in the 2024 class, has officially committed to Duke, as announced by the program on Wednesday morning. This addition completes the six-player class, which will now focus on preparing for the upcoming season. Duke’s roster turnover means that only two players from last season will return, making Maluach’s role in the upcoming season significant, according to scouting reports from 247’s national analyst, Travis Branham.

“Maluach will bring great size, athleticism, length and skill to Duke’s frontcourt getting a big man who can move his feet, brings energy, switches on defense, protects the rim and scores, inside and out, on offense,” said Branham. “He is a tremendous pairing alongside Duke’s star signee Cooper Flagg where the two will become an immensely impactful duo on both ends of the court.”

Duke men’s basketball head coach Jon Scheyer officially welcomed Khaman Maluach to the Blue Devils’ 2024 recruiting class on Wednesday. Hailing from the NBA Academy Africa in Senegal, the 7-foot-2, 250-pound center is a five-star prospect, ranked third overall and the top center by 247Sports. He joins four other future Blue Devils ranked in the top 20 by 247Sports. Maluach played a crucial role in South Sudan’s qualification for the Paris Olympics this summer. His achievements include being named MVP at the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Africa camp and participating in notable events like the Nike Hoop Summit.

Scheyer expressed his excitement about Maluach’s addition, highlighting his diverse skill set and leadership qualities. Despite only playing basketball for five years, Maluach’s impressive physical attributes and guidance from Luol Deng have fueled his rapid improvement since joining the NBA Academy Africa in 2021.

Originally committing to Duke on March 6, Maluach joins other highly touted recruits such as Cooper Flagg, Isaiah Evans, Kon Knueppel, Patrick Ngongba II, and Darren Harris, forming a promising future for the Blue Devils’ basketball program.