Duke freshman Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje has emerged as an early favorite to become the No. 1 pick in the 2028 NBA Draft.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Woo, the 7-foot-2 forward will spend two seasons at Duke before becoming draft-eligible because he was born in 2009.
Boumtje Boumtje strengthened his reputation at the Under-17 World Cup, averaging 19.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 2.1 blocks for Team USA.
He shot 59.8 percent from the field and 53.1 percent from three while leading the Americans to gold and earning tournament MVP honors.
The son of former Georgetown and NBA player Ruben Boumtje Boumtje, he grew up in the United States but spent the past three years developing with FC Barcelona.
His combination of size, perimeter shooting and defensive ability has drawn significant attention from scouts.
Some evaluators believe he possesses talent comparable to recent elite college prospects Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer.
Boumtje Boumtje will arrive at Duke at just 17 years old, giving him two college seasons to develop before potentially becoming the first selection in the 2028 draft.
Duke’s Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje Clear Favorite To Go No. 1 In 2028 NBA Draft https://t.co/W6KeHKdp5Z
— RealGM (@RealGM) August 20, 2026
