It’s not easy for traditional center prospects to generate top-five buzz in today’s NBA. Generally speaking, the big men that get drafted early have blossoming face-up games and perimeter skills, giving them a shot at turning into high-usage offensive players. Well, that doesn’t describe Duke center Khaman Maluach. But, the 18-year-old, who is averaging 8.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game as a freshman, is special in his own right.

Defense is the calling card for this exciting South Sudanese prospect, who stands at 7-foot-2 with a reported 7-foot-6 wingspan and 9-foot-8 standing reach. Maluach is the last line of defense for a Duke team that is Top-5 in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to both KenPom and Bart Torvik. And while he’s not setting the world on fire with his per-game block numbers, there isn’t another freshman in college basketball that stands at 6-foot-11 or taller and can top Maluach’s 2.8 Defensive Box Plus-Minus. Also, while the traditional block numbers aren’t all that impressive, Maluach’s block percentage of 6.2% tells a better story. And realistically, you don’t need to swat a lot of shots in order to be a valuable rim protector.

Maluach is absurdly long, making him an imposing rim deterrent when he’s standing up straight and putting his arms up. That’s a big part of the reason why Maluach is a strong interior defender. Maluach is also good at altering shots, and simply making players abandon taking shots around the basket. He’s a master when it comes to forcing opponents into uncomfortable floaters and awkward finishes. That, combined with impressive mobility and unteachable footspeed, helps Maluach hold up nicely when switched on smaller defenders in pick-and-roll scenarios. And overall, all of those things will help prevent Maluach from being the type of center that can be played off the floor in high-leverage situations.

If Maluach can make some minor strides when it comes to positioning and discipline, there’s a real shot he ends up being a borderline All-NBA defender. That’s obviously not a given; Maluach does get himself in foul trouble quite a bit. However, he seems to be very coachable and has already shown he’s capable of making significant year-over-year strides. Finishing out the rest of the season with a good Duke coaching staff will do wonders for him, as will spending more time with the South Sudan national team. And once he gets to the NBA, coaches will begin to really drill down some minor details. Realistically, you wouldn’t want it any other way. Having natural, innate athleticism, coordination and talent and being a few lessons away is better than being a near-finished product and not having the requisite mobility or leaping ability to get to another level.

Maluach is also rather useful offensively. He’s a tremendous pick-and-roll play finisher, capable of going up for lobs and hammering them down. He’s also a no-nonsense player when he has the ball with two feet in the paint. If there’s nothing easy available for him, he’s going to get rid of the ball and put it in the hands of somebody that can do something with it. He’s extremely mature in that sense.

Maluach also shows promise as a shooter. That’s not to say he’s going to be a sniper at any point in his career, but he’s a decent free throw shooter (75.0%) and has made a couple of threes this season. Of course, a deep-ball from Maluach isn’t a big part of Duke’s offense, as the Blue Devils have multiple high-level shooters and scorers that should have the ball instead of him. He’s really out there to defend, finish around the basket and hit the offensive glass — which he is very good at. But we have seen worse center prospects than Maluach turn into floor-spacing options at the next level. And even if that is never part of Maluach’s game, it’s at least nice that he’s reliable at the charity stripe. Nobody wants a center that’s a complete liability at the line.

Ultimately, there will be sexier prospects that end up being top-10 picks in the 2025 NBA Draft. But we’re just two years removed from Dereck Lively II making a real impact on a winning team as a rookie, and Maluach has the potential to be that type of player — and possibly even better. With that in mind, if your team ends up drafting Maluach this June, don’t get caught up thinking about how he might not have the potential to be your typical franchise-changing pick. Sure, he might not be a franchise player himself, but he can be a franchise cornerstone. And a rim-running big that’s easy to play with and has the potential to anchor a defense unlocks all kinds of team-building opportunities. So, while he might not change a franchise himself, his presence can mean good things to come in the future.

There’s also a bit of mystery when it comes to Maluach’s long-term outlook. He started playing basketball at the age of 13, so there’s always a chance we’ll see some late developments that we never saw coming. That makes him a little more enticing than your average high-floor big.