Duke forward Paolo Banchero will enter the 2022 NBA draft and forgo his remaining NCAA eligibility, he announced Wednesday. The 6-foot-10 Seattle native is the second player from the Blue Devils' Final Four team to turn pro in as many days.
Banchero, the ACC's Freshman of the Year, was one of the most highly skilled big men in the nation last season. He led the Blue Devils in scoring and rebounding with 17.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game and was also second on the team with 3.1 assists per game.
His versatility in being able to score inside or out makes him a highly coveted prospect. Most mock draft projections have him as the third overall pick behind Auburn's Jabari Smith and Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren.
