2
Oct
Aussies in NCAAAM
'Cool hand Luke': Blue chip Paul commits to Duke
Photo Digitally Altered: What Luke Paul will look like in a Duke Blue Devils uniform in 2027-28. Photo: FIBA.com and Digital Alteration.
Highlights
The 17-year-old Cairns point guard heads to Durham as part of college basketball's Class of 2027.
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NBL Next Star Luke Paul's drive to become an NBA player is set to become a high-speed burn on Tobacco Road, committing to Duke University as part of NCAA Men's Basketball's Class of 2027 today.
Paul, 17, told ESPN's Brian Windhorst: "I'd like to announce my commitment to Duke University.
"I want to go to a place that's going to help me develop my player performance and get me to the next level, which is the NBA.
"After the call with Coach (Jon) Scheyer, it just felt like a place where it was going to be home for me.
"All the coaches were on the call, and it just felt like they had their best interests in me as a player and me as a person as well.
"I just want to say thanks to Coach Scheyer and the rest of the coaching staff."
Duke has produced more than 100 NBA players (see below), including Hall of Famer Grant Hill, Melbourne-born Kyrie Irving, Sydney point guard Tyrese Proctor, NBA champion Jayson Tatum (NBL coach Justin Tatum's son), Zion Williamson, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Ingram, Shane Battier, Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick, as well as Carlos Boozer and his son Cameron.
As many as 27 Blue Devils alumni were in the NBA last season. ACC powerhouse colleges Duke, arch rivals North Carolina, NC State and Wake Forest are colloquially referred to as Tobacco Road, named for the region's unhealthy agricultural history. Duke, North Carolina and NC State sit within about 45km of each other, with Wake Forest about 130km west in Winston-Salem. Duke, North Carolina and NC State have all won national championships.
Paul, who signed as a Next Star during last season's NBL HoopsFest in Perth, is a three-time All-Star 5 member at international tournaments, was the MVP at the 2025 FIBA Under-16 Asia Cup and was part of the Australian Crocs bronze medal-winning team at the 2026 FIBA Under-17 Men's World Cup.
American Joaquim (JoJo) Boumtje-Boumtje will play his freshman season at Duke this season. He won the MVP at the World Cup, and Paul saw enough at the July tournament to believe "Pairing up with JoJo at the one-and-the-five spot is going to be unreal."
"He's going to be fun to play with, and I'm super excited for it," Paul added.
The 1.98m (6'6") point guard is yet to play for the Cairns Taipans in NBL27 because of an ankle injury but he revealed he is "Almost back to playing."
"I'm super excited to start my professional career in the NBL," Paul continued.
"Maybe one more week away, and then I should be back on court."
The NBL Next Stars program's reputation for developing NBA draft picks for players outside the American college system is unprecedented.
NBL Next Stars Recruitment general manager Liam Santamaria said: "Luke has earned this opportunity through his talent, work ethic and character.
"The game is evolving, and so are the opportunities available to young players. We are proud to be a key part of Luke's journey and look forward to supporting him this season and beyond."
Duke is the next step for the Next Star, but before he heads to Durham, North Carolina, he has business to attend to in Far North Queensland.
"Training in this NBL environment is accelerating my development, and I'm thankful to the Taipans, Coach Adam Forde, the Next Stars program and everyone involved for helping me to improve," Paul said.
"I'm excited about committing to Duke, as it's a dream come true and I'm equally excited about giving absolutely everything I have to Cairns this season."
The Taipans' next game is against Melbourne United on Saturday, October 3 at John Cain Arena.
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