The Duke Blue Devils entered their Round of 32 matchup in the 2025 NCAA Tournament as heavy favorites against the Baylor Bears. While freshman sensation Cooper Flagg shone brightly, it was Tyrese Proctor who emerged as the standout performer for Duke, highlighting the significance for head coach Jon Scheyer. Proctor, a top-50 recruit from the 2022 high school class, has not fully blossomed into the star player many anticipated. However, his contributions as a valuable role player are noteworthy, with an average of 12.2 points this season on one of the nation’s top teams.
In Sunday’s clash against Baylor, Proctor stepped up impressively, sinking nine of ten shots, including seven three-pointers, and scoring a game-high 25 points, leading to a commanding 89-66 victory for the Blue Devils.
Tyrese Proctor vs Baylor today to send Duke to the Sweet 16!!!
25 PTS (9-10 FG, 7-8 3PT)
3 ASTI felt like he was a pro after his freshman season.. how we feelin??? pic.twitter.com/irUxlLej6n
— Frankie Vision (@Frankie_Vision) March 23, 2025
Following the game, Jon Scheyer reflected on Proctor’s evolution from a player who faced early struggles to one of the team’s key contributors. Scheyer expressed his pride in Proctor’s “hard journey,” especially in an era where many players opt for the transfer portal when facing challenges. With emotion, Scheyer shared, “It’s harder to go through those journeys now. I took over in April, and Tyrese and I had a call on May 31st for him to come in a year early. We both knew there would be rough patches, particularly with reclassifying. He faced challenges his first year but showed promise down the stretch.”
Continuing, he noted, “He could have opted to go pro after his freshman year, but he and his family opted for maturity, understanding that it was more crucial to be ready than simply to get drafted. After a sophomore year that didn’t meet our expectations, it would have been easy for him to walk away. We had frank discussions, and the key difference is Proctor’s willingness to confront his challenges head-on. If I’m an NBA team, I’m pursuing him because he knows how to handle adversity.”
“If I’m an NBA team, I’m going after him because you have to be able to handle adversity.”
Jon Scheyer got choked up when talking about Tyrese Proctor 🥹💙 pic.twitter.com/9L9iT1fhEB
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 23, 2025
While many success stories emerge from the transfer portal, numerous players also face setbacks in search of better opportunities. As Scheyer highlighted, the portal can diminish the accountability players have for their on-court performance. Nonetheless, Proctor’s dedication has evidently yielded substantial results. It will be exciting to see how he builds on his breakthrough performance at such a crucial moment for his team.
