Duke Freshman First College Player To Appear In NBA 2K Video Game

Times are most certainly changing in the world of sports. In the game of basketball, for instance, teams are signing players younger and younger as they try to build a dynasty in some fashion.

That leads us to Duke hoops sensation Paolo Banchero, who is set to appear as the first ever college basketball player in the NBA 2K video game collection.

Banchero has signed a first-of-its-kind deal with 2K Sports that will make him a playable character in NBA 2K22.

Not only could this deal change the landscape of the NBA and video games permanently, it could also open the door for many other players who feel that they should be getting love -- and compensation -- when they take the court for their school.

Banchero is an automatic selection in the in-game 2022 NBA draft and appears as a player in the MyCareer mode in NBA 2K22.

The youngster put out a video on Instagram announcing the deal and explaining how the mode of play will work when the game is released.

Banchero's deal comes just over two months after the NCAA passed its interim name, image, and likeness policy permitting student-athletes to profit from their likenesses.

The 18-year-old was one of the highest-rated recruits in the 2021 class and is projected as a potential No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.