A Duke star has signed with Panini America in advance of the NBA Draft.

All-American R.J. Barrett, who is projected to be among the top picks in next week's draft, has signed an exclusive card agreement revealed today. His first in-pack cards will arrive in 2019 Contenders Draft Picks and then in 2019-20 NBA Hoops in October. He will make his debut via Panini Instant after he is drafted.

“With an athlete like R.J. Barrett, we were determined to target an initial partnership with a group who recognizes how special he is,” said Robert Kinnard, Executive Director of Global Marketing for BDA Sports, in a prepared statement. “Panini is a giant in the trading card and memorabilia industry and it is satisfying to see their shared vision as evidenced by their commitment to the influence R.J.’s brand will have on the marketplace.”

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Panini Eternal isn't just about the NFL -- it's about the NBA, too.

Panini America's second offering in its high-end real-time cardboard program and the 2016-17 Panini Eternal set was released on Friday with an NBA Finals jersey of Cleveland Cavaliers star Kyrie Irving being the showcase piece.

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The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are five threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.

What's Buzzing Today: National Treasures, Donruss blasters, Duke's finest, best baseball movies, the Maikel Franco debate & more

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Way back in 1999, Elton Brand was a star center for the Duke Blue Devils -- a center from tiny Peekskill, N.Y., who was about to make a big impression as the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft.

Fast-forward to today and the former Chicago Bull is coming out of retirement to join the NBA's worst team -- the Philadelphia 76ers, owners of a 3-33 record -- to help mentor another former Blue Devils star and first-round pick, Jahlil Okafor. Okafor, of course, has had issues off the court this season while also picking up the NBA game quickly. It's a match made in Blue Devils collecting heaven.

"He's not unlike most 20-year-olds you probably know, and he's definitely not at all different than most of his fellow players," Brand wrote in a piece for Sports Illustrated's website. "... if camera phones were around when Brad Miller, Ron Artest and I were Jahlil's age, we might've been banned from the league altogether, never mind suspended for a few games."

So, what about Brand on cardboard?

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This in from the Philadelphia Daily News after the NBA debut of Jahlil Okafor Wednesday night in Boston ...

It is impossible to overstate the significance of Jahlil Okafor . . . though the Philadelphia region seemed mystifyingly indifferent. Think about it: The Sixers finally added a complete player.  This is Eric Lindros, Jim Thome, Donovan McNabb and Allen Iverson.

With apologies to Sir Charles, Okafor is the best real big man to hit town since Moses [Malone], rest his soul, except Moses wasn't a savior. Jahlil Okafor brings salvation in short pants.

Okafor scored 26 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked a pair of shots in his debut. Said his coach later in the story about his ability to work on the court: "That's a hint of Tim Duncan."

We'll have to wait a while to see if he's the next Timmahhh, but we can start by looking at Okafor's early cardboard.

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