The Bucks have signed undrafted rookie Trevon Duval to a two-way contract, reports Matt Velazquez of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Twitter link).
[RELATED: 2018/19 NBA Two-Way Contract Tracker]
A former Duke point guard, Duval left the Blue Devils after his freshman season, declaring for the 2018 draft this spring. In 37 college games, the 19-year-old posted 10.3 PPG, 5.6 APG, 2.0 RPG, and 1.5 SPG. He struggled with his scoring efficiency, compiling a .428/.290/.596 shooting line.
Despite ranking as the 53rd overall prospect on Jonathan Givony’s big board at ESPN.com, Duval went undrafted last month. He joined the Rockets’ Summer League squad in Las Vegas and averaged 9.2 PPG on 36.1% shooting in five games earlier this month.
The Bucks tendered qualifying offers to both of their two-way players last season, but have since withdrawn their QO to Marshall Plumlee. Xavier Munford‘s QO is still on the table, so it’s possible he’ll eventually join Duval and fill the other two-way slot on Milwaukee’s roster.
Honestly, I’m surprised a couple of more teams might not have been more interested in him. Obviously, he didnt shoot well, but everything else is pretty enticing, and you can see why he was originally so highly recruited. If someone develops him, they could end up with a steal. He seems like a really good athlete, and he looks like he plays hard. It should be interesting to see how he does with NBA coaches there to develop him
Duval is the highest rated HS recruit not to be drafted that I can remember. Looked the part too. NBA body at 17. I guess he was so physically impressive nobody noticed he couldn’t shoot. Even Coach K. If HS kids were eligible for the draft, he’d have almost certainly have been a top 10 pick.
In other words, he is the perfect reason why high schoolers shouldn’t be draft eligible. The competition for high school is not anywhere close to D-I level, let alone G League or NBA levels. It is impossible to determine how a high school kid will do against tougher competition without seeing him against tougher competition. Duval should still be at Duke. He will go down as yet another example of guys that should not have left school early. For every early entrant that works out, there are 10 Duvals.
I think Duval is an extreme case, but – yes – he does highlight at least why NBA teams think HS players shouldn’t be eligible for the draft. The chance to be set for life even if a bust might give HS players a different perspective.
But “one and done” isn’t much better than HS kids being eligible, and college programs (not to mention the colleges themselves) are close to their breaking point with these kids, they’re all paid and have one foot out the door before they get there. I don’t even know if Duval had the option to return. Did he attend class the second semester? (many don’t).
I think that Duke has an even better PG coming in, and, that Duval has a ways to go.
They have Jones’ brother (not quite the recruit Duval was, but an AA nonetheless). He (like most top guys) signed before Duval played a game for Duke. It’s definitely an issue in the supply chain when a pure one and done wants to stay a second season. More of an immediate issue for the suppliers and the younger clients than the program, but even the programs aren’t necessarily welcoming them back kids past their expiration date. The year Kentucky went undefeated in the FF they had 3 guys come back unexpectedly from the year before. Helped on the court, but did ruffle some feathers.