Duke basketball’s two freshman big men are ready to thrive — together. Why they could

In its usual star-studded recruiting class, Duke added two big men projected to play major roles on this season’s basketball team.

The fact they are both considered centers, one standing 7-foot-1 and the other 6-11, isn’t a problem for Duke’s coaching staff or the players themselves.

That’s because Dereck Lively and Kyle Filipowski chose Duke because they wanted to play together, and they have the versatility to make it work.

The team’s summer practices only drove the point home further.

“This is exactly what we expected because of how interchangeable we are,” the 6-11, 220-pound Filipowski said. “The ability for both of us to play inside and out, it’s really been a huge benefit to the both of us.”

The 215-pound Lively arrived at Duke as the No. 1-rated recruit in the Class of 2022. Filipowski, also carrying a five-star rating, was No. 4.

Together, they are confident they can work in tandem to help Duke maintain its traditional level of success in Jon Scheyer’s first year as the Blue Devils’ head coach following Mike Krzyzewski’s retirement.

Last season’s Blue Devils, while going 32-7, winning the ACC regular-season championship and reaching the Final Four, used 7-1 center Mark Williams inside with versatile forward 6-10 Paolo Banchero working inside and out.

Williams was more of a traditional center, though. So, too, was his main reserve, 6-9 Theo John.

Lively comes with the defensive reputation as a shot blocker, something Williams did exceptionally well while being named ACC defensive player of the year. But Lively does so much more.

“Dereck fits the profile of a modern-day big man,” Scheyer said. “He can run the floor, he can finish above the rim and he’s a great pick-and-roll player that can either pop or he can rim run and be a threat. On the defensive end, he’s elite.”

On defense, Lively has the athleticism to check guards, forwards and centers. That will allow Duke to have its players switch who they guard all over the court and not worry about mismatches.

He’s expected to be the rim protector Duke lost when Williams left for the NBA, where the Charlotte Hornets selected him in the first round of last June’s draft.

Filipowski will be right there, too, helping protect the rim and grab rebounds.

On offense, they are confident they’ll interact well enough to keep the Blue Devils a high-scoring team.

Both can shoot 3-pointers. Both can score in the lane. Both can put the ball on the floor and beat defenders to the rim.

“He can put the ball on the floor very well,” Lively said. “He can get through the shot. He can get past players. Knowing that he can do that, that will make my defender help off. So it’s gonna get me shots open as well. Whenever I have the ball, the person who is guarding him is going to help off, so we’re just gonna be making plays for each other.”

This will be more than a two-man show, of course. Duke also plans on major contributions from 6-6 freshman forward Dariq Whitehead, 6-5 freshman guard Tyrese Proctor, 6-6 transfer Jacob Grandison and 6-3 junior guard Jeremy Roach.

Another transfer, 6-10 center Ryan Young, will also help in the post.

Duke’s freshman big men, in particular, are ready to thrive.

“Duke’s offense,” Filipowski said, “it’s made for versatile types of players.”

With so many options, unselfishness will be extra important.

“Just making sure that we stay unselfish and make sure you keep moving the ball,” Lively said. “It’s gonna be a great year.”