UNDRAFTED: Nets sign David Duke Jr. and Brandon Rachal as Summer League roster fills out

The NBA Summer League is eight days away and the Nets are putting the final touches to their roster. David Duke Jr. and Brandon Rachal have signed as undrafted free agents and will play in the Summer League as members of the Nets in Vegas, they say.

Duke — a 6’5,’ 205-pound junior guard from Providence — took to social media to announce that he signed with Brooklyn as an undrafted free agent shortly after the end of the NBA Draft.

Duke finished his junior season with the Friars averaging 16.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 37.1 minutes per contest. The 21-year-old played in a total of 26 games during the 2020-21 season and shot 38.7 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from three.

The guard’s play earned him to the All-Big East Second Team and throughout his three seasons at Providence, Duke has made steady and consistent improvements scoring and facilitating.

Heading into his new opportunity — and his first as a professional — with Brooklyn, Duke is determined to prove his worth and is going in with a chip on his shoulder.

“This opportunity means everything to me. Coming from where I’m from not many have gotten an opportunity at the NBA so to be here is a blessing. However, I do feel I have a ton to prove so I’m going in with a chip on my shoulder,” Duke told NetsDaily.

Before he got the call from the Nets, Duke had a pre-draft workout with Brooklyn and a couple of interviews. Outside of his pre-draft work with Brooklyn, the former Friar — who grew up in New England — said he knows Bruce Brown and played with Reggie Perry.

“I did not have any relationships with any coaches on the Nets. I have interviewed a couple times with them and worked out for them. As for players, I know Bruce Brown being from New England area. I also played alongside Reggie Perry at adidas Eurocamp in high school,” Duke said.

Rachal — a 6’6,’ 220-pound senior guard from Tulsa — averaged 15.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 31.6 minutes per game during his senior season. Tulsa announced Rachal’s signing as an undrafted free agent Friday morning.

The guard led his team in blocks (18), steals (360, and in rebounds (166) and was third in assists. His play earned him second-team All-Conference and NABC second-team all-district. Rachal’s biggest performance during the 2020-21 season came against a win over Cincinnati — scoring a season-high 25 points and snagging 13 rebounds (third double-double).

“I’m extremely blessed for the opportunity to sign with the Nets. I've worked really hard to put myself in this position and looking forward to learning from Coach Nash and my new teammates,” Rachal told NetsDaily.

Brooklyn tips off their 2021 Summer League against Memphis on Monday, August 9. The game is scheduled to tip at 5:00 PM ET at the Cox Pavilion on the UNLV campus and will be televised on ESPN2.