[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2024 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]

Tyrese Proctor
Frame: 6’5″ 175 lbs
Position: Guard
Team: Duke Blue Devils
2024 Draft Age: 20
Stats via ​​sports-reference.com and barttorvik.com

Offense

Proctor is a versatile combo guard who excels off catch-and-shoot threes and playmaking out of the pick-and-roll. He is composed in screening actions and will often reset or reject the screen to get a shot off for himself or his teammates. Proctor has an excellent feel for the game, always tends to make the right play, and doesn’t force the issue. He has improved his three-point percentage from 32 to 36 percent on 4.9 attempts and his field-goal percentage from 38 to 44 percent. Proctor also improved his true shooting percentage from his freshman year (50.4 to 56.8 percent), per www.battorvik.com. Most of his attempts are assists (85.5 percent), so one area of needed growth may be off-the-dribble shooting.

Proctor needs to improve his interior finishing, as he can struggle to get his shot off cleanly over athletic bigs. However, it is encouraging that his at-rim finishing percentage has increased to 65.4 percent (up about nine points from last year, albeit on fewer attempts). He does not get to the line much (1.5 attempts for his career), as he is a crafty finisher and doesn’t seek contact. Proctor resets and kicks out if a shot is not there.

While Proctor doesn’t have the quickest first step and is a below-the-rim finisher, he does have a nifty touch around the rim. His lack of athleticism sometimes makes him struggle to beat his defender off the dribble. Proctor has a high IQ and attacks well with a change-of-pace dribble, crossovers and hesitations. He plays with great pace in transition and makes the right read as a primary or secondary playmaker. He’s a capable midrange shooter and a heady passer who always has his head up and tries to start transition fastbreaks.

Proctor averages 3.8 assists as a secondary playmaker for Duke, sharing a loaded backcourt with NBA prospect Jared McCain and four-year starter Jeremy Roach. Proctor has developed an effective two-man game with Kyle Filipowski, getting open looks off each other from all three levels. He is also a creative scorer out of the pick-n-roll, where he is patient enough to get what the defense gives him. Proctor needs to be even more aggressive in his playmaking decisions as he sometimes errs on the side of caution instead of making a pass in a tight window.

 

Defense

Proctor is an instinctive defender who can guard both guard positions and switch comfortability. He has decent length (6’7″ wingspan) and a high defensive IQ as an on-ball and off-ball defender. He often takes the toughest perimeter assignment on the other team and battles to not let his man get off easy looks. Proctor held the ACC’s top leading scorer, RJ Davis, to 13 PPG on 9 of 26 shooting across two games. He does not gamble often and stays disciplined with his reads and switches.

Proctor will not wow you with his steal and block numbers (0.7 and 0.1, respectively) but is always aware of where his man is and won’t lose focus. He needs to fill out more and work on his lateral burst, as sometimes he is physically overwhelmed by speed or bulk. Proctor needs to enhance his physicality to become more effective at challenging drives, boxing out and fighting through screens. Overall, Proctor is a very sound defender with great awareness and instincts. 

Looking Ahead

While his raw numbers haven’t improved as much as scouts would have liked from his freshman campaign, he still has improved as a three-point shooter and can be effective on and off the ball. Proctor has proven he can contribute on loaded teams and should thrive off catch-and-shoot and relocation threes. He has a high IQ for the game on both sides of the ball and should be able to be a secondary/tertiary creator at the next level.

Proctor can play off other high-usage players and guard both backcourt positions with a frame that will fill out. He is similar to Lonzo Ball in that he will give up good shots for great ones, defend both guard spots and hit spot-up threes. He projects as a late first-rounder or second-rounder in the NBA draft with room for improvement. His swing skills will be his off-the-dribble shooting, first step and vertical pop.