Duke Lands Elite Australian Point Guard Luke Paul, Potential 2028 NBA Lottery Pick

Duke has landed one of the world’s most intriguing young guards. Luke Paul, a 17-year-old 6-foot-6 point guard from Australia, committed to Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils Thursday. Paul will spend this season playing professionally with the Cairns Taipans in Australia’s NBL Next Stars program before joining Duke for the 2027-28 season.

Paul is ranked No. 2 among international prospects born in 2009 by DraftExpress and is already viewed as a potential lottery pick in the 2028 NBA Draft. His international résumé explains the excitement. Paul averaged 15.3 points, 7.1 assists and 6.4 rebounds at the 2026 FIBA U17 World Cup while helping Australia earn a bronze medal.

The commitment also shows how international recruiting continues to reshape college basketball. Paul became the youngest player to join the NBL Next Stars program when he signed at 16, choosing a pathway previously used by NBA guards LaMelo Ball and Josh Giddey. Now he’ll combine professional experience in Australia with Duke’s NBA-development platform, giving the Blue Devils another high-upside international prospect for the future.