Kyle Filipowski might have been a first-round draft pick this year. Instead, the 2023 ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Tournament MVP decided in April to return for a sophomore Duke basketball campaign and another shot at living out his dream of winning a national championship with the Blue Devils.
And according to the 19-year-old's chat with 23-year-old Duke graduate big man Ryan Young this week on the heavy-banter premiere episode of The Brotherhood Podcast, Filipowski probably wouldn't be a returning sophomore had he attended college elsewhere.
That's not because he believes his draft stock would've been higher playing for another program. No, the 7-footer out of Westtown, N.Y., the first recruit to announce his commitment to head coach Jon Scheyer, summarized his reasoning for returning as the sheer enjoyment of thriving while at Duke outweighs anything else.
At least for one more year, that is.
"Right off the bat, I mean, I loved it this past year here at Duke," Kyle Filipowski explained. "And I know that once you get to this level, business comes into play. You still have to enjoy the sport you love, but you have got to understand that there's a business side to it as well, and that gets even more once you get to the professionals."
In the end, it sounds like his remaining Duke basketball aspirations were worth more to him than a guaranteed seven-figure contract in the NBA.
"I just really loved it this past year playing with you guys," he reiterated to Young. "A dream of mine has been to win a national championship. And I really don't think there's any better place to do it. Going into this decision, I even said to myself and a few other people that if I were to have gone somewhere else in college, I do not think I would have stayed for my sophomore year...
"But because I had the year I did here at Duke, and I just enjoyed it so much, it really made me want to stick around for one more year."
Filipowski, now working his way back to 100 percent for team workouts following offseason hip surgery, then noted that working a bit more toward a prestigious Duke degree, which he plans to achieve someday, was another factor in his return.
Although the Filipowski decision was the one that likely ensured the Blue Devils begin the season with a top-five ranking, it was not the only big-time win for the program since losing to Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 on March 18.
Two other Duke basketball freshman starters, Mark Mitchell and Tyrese Proctor, passed on a chance to potentially be drafted this year in favor of chasing banners under Scheyer's command once again.
The three sophomore sensations will have the help of one more returning starter in rising senior Jeremy Roach, plus Young, three more returning scholarship players, and four incoming five-stars.
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