Prime worldwide basketball prospect Dame Sarr has dedicated to Duke, he instructed ESPN on Thursday.
“Duke was my dream faculty,” Sarr mentioned. “I watched plenty of NCAA video games this season, particularly Duke. I performed with Jabari Parker this season, who went to Duke. After I had the prospect to go there, I needed to take it.”
“My final aim is to play within the NBA, “Sarr continued. “There is not any higher place to organize you for that than Duke. For me to be as NBA-ready as doable, and grow to be the perfect model of myself, I wanted to have each experiences — enjoying for a professional crew like Barcelona, and enjoying in a unique kind {of professional} setting like Duke in opposition to different gamers my age. Alternative, minutes, repetition — this route is the perfect subsequent step for me at the moment.”
The 6-foot-8 wing from Italy made his Spanish ACB league debut for Barcelona as a 16-year previous in 2023, the second-youngest participant in membership historical past to take action. He turned a rotation participant for them within the Euroleague and ACB this season. He made his debut with the Italian senior nationwide crew final November, after beforehand starring for it on the FIBA U16 and U18 Eurobaskets.
“I am very grateful for this season,” Sarr mentioned. “I improved loads as a participant and individual. My teammates and a number of the teaching workers have been nice to me. It is due to them that I had this chance. They’re part of my development and I respect them for that.”
Sarr had a breakout displaying in entrance of NBA scouts final month on the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Oregon, posting 17 factors and 4 rebounds in 25 minutes in opposition to a bunch of elite US highschool gamers, together with A.J. Dybantsa and future Duke teammates Cameron and Cayden Boozer.
His determination to attend the occasion, nonetheless, created a backlash, as Barcelona launched an announcement criticizing him for departing the crew with out approval. The membership initially responded positively to Sarr’s invitation to attend the Hoop Summit earlier within the season, however later rescinded that when he turned an vital fixture within the crew’s rotation. His newbie contract with the membership expires subsequent month.
“We had an settlement to permit me to go to Hoop Summit,” Sarr mentioned. “I did not really feel it was proper to withdraw from the sport after having accepted the invite based mostly on their approval. My teammates supported me in my determination, that is already up to now, we ended all the pieces on nice phrases, and I nonetheless love Barcelona.”
Sarr seems to be poised to step into an vital function on the wing subsequent season at Duke alongside rising sophomore Isaiah Evans. Washington State switch Cedric Coward was initially slated to fill that function after committing to play for Duke final month, however seems prone to keep within the NBA draft on the Might 28 deadline.
Sarr says he plans to carry versatility on each ends of the ground to enrich a younger roster highlighted by a trio of incoming McDonald’s All People within the Boozer brothers and ahead Nikolas Khamenia, in addition to returning gamers Evans, Caleb Foster, Patrick Ngongba, Malique Lewis and Darren Harris.
“Duke is shedding Kon Knueppel and Tyrese Proctor — who’ve an analogous enjoying fashion as me,” Sarr mentioned. “My profitable mentality and talent to play alongside different good gamers, whereas creating photographs for myself and others, will assist me, together with my offense and defensive versatility. It is a proficient roster. We’d like the items to slot in properly.”
Sarr simply accomplished an official go to to Duke and says he plans to formally enroll on the faculty after acquiring his visa subsequent month.
Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft professional and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a non-public scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and Worldwide groups.
