RALEIGH, N.C. – Things haven’t always worked out exactly as planned for Tyrese Proctor, but the Duke guard isn’t the type of person to jump ship when the waters get rough. After yet another stellar performance in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Proctor is receiving recognition as one of the key contributors in the early Jon Scheyer era at Duke.

Proctor led Duke with 25 points on 7-for-8 shooting from behind the arc in Sunday’s 89-66 victory over Baylor in the second round of the East Region, following a game where he made 6-of-8 three-pointers against Mount St. Mary’s.

Sunday’s performance marked a notable moment in Duke’s history, as Proctor became the first player from Duke to make five or more three-pointers in back-to-back NCAA Tournament games since now-coach Jon Scheyer did it during Duke’s 2010 championship run.

While this emerging connection between Proctor and Scheyer brought some humor among Duke’s players, it also revealed deep reflections about the journey both have experienced together over the past three seasons.

Proctor, a highly-rated prospect, originally intended to graduate from the NBA Global Academy in Australia in 2023 but decided to reclassify and enroll early after discussions with Scheyer during the spring of 2022.

“I think we knew there would be some rough patches reclassifying; there were during his first year,” Scheyer said emotionally, reflecting on Proctor’s 2022-23 season. “But he had some significant moments, showing strength in a challenging situation.”

Coming back for a sophomore year was a decision made by Proctor and his family, focusing on being fully prepared for the NBA rather than just being drafted. Though expectations were high, Proctor was viewed as a top-five pick for the 2024 NBA Draft.

This season did not progress as Proctor had hoped, and it would have been easy for him to enter the transfer portal – as many Duke players did – or pursue his professional ambitions. Instead, Scheyer had straightforward discussions with him regarding his future opportunities at Duke, keeping it real about the journey ahead.

They faced obstacles, with Proctor experiencing setbacks in earlier tournaments but ultimately shining once again, showcasing his ability to make significant contributions during the NCAA Tournament.

Through his development, both Proctor and Scheyer have navigated the ups and downs together, building a formidable program in the aftermath of Coach K’s retirement.