Coach K and Durham Mayor Bell share a moment as Duke was honored by the City of Durham on Thursday. BDN Photo
DURHAM - The Duke Men's Basketball team was honored by the city of Durham on the American Tobacco campus on Thursday.
Several Duke fans gathered in the converted former warehouses to honor their Duke Blue Devils for winning the 2010 National Championship.
Chants of "Let's go Duke," rang through a beautiful spring day in the City of Medicine as the band and cheerleaders helped get the crowd going.
Coach Krzyzewski led his troops out as Durham Mayor Bill Bell and other dignitaries gave homage to a team that Krzyzewski called the most together team he'd ever coached.
After Krzyzewski sang the praises of his team and Durham, seniors Jon Scheyer, Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek spoke to the gathering of smiling faces, most all of them wearing royal "Duke" blue.
When junior Final Four Most Outstanding Player Kyle Singler was mentioned, chants of "One more year," were heard. Singler is undecided on whether he will enter the NBA Draft with the deadline fast approaching. When asked by Mayor Bill Bell if he was ready to make an announcement to make, Singler smiled and declined.
Several signs will go up on Durham highways stating, "Home of the Duke University Blue Devils 2010 NCAA Men's National Champions."
Brian Zoubek has continued to have a tight hold on the National Championship Trophy. The crowd of Durham locals chanted, "Zoubs," as the senior held up some special hardware.
The Blue Devils then made their way over to the DAP home of the Durham Bull's the defending AAA Champion who were playing their home opener. Scheyer, Thomas and Zoubek all threw out pitches and the team was honored during the third inning.
In winning the title, Duke gave a gift to its fans that keeps on giving as time goes on. It's clear that Blue Devil faithful are still basking in the glow of victory, each one on this day immersed in sunlight surrounded by Duke blue.
Just below you can hear the celebration in its entirety. Coach K and the team speak at the sixteen minute mark for those who want just that.
Just press play - (see photos below, more to come on our Blue Devil Nation Facebook site)
-BDN Photo- BDN Photo- BDN Photo- BDN Photo- BDN PhotoEven the local Duke pooch loves him some Blue Devil - BDN PhotoDuke's Kyle Singler and Lance Thomas share a light moment - BDN PhotoA fond farewell from Duke seniors Jon Scheyer and Lance Thomas - BDNP
Amir Williams is a 6’10,” 224lb junior from Detroit Country Day, the alma mater of Chris Webber and Shane Battier. Forming a formidable inside-outside duo with point guard Ray McCallum, Jr., Williams had a double-double in the title game to win a Michigan State Title, the eighth under Coach Kurt Keener. After a morning of taking the ACT, Williams competed for The Family AAU program at the Boo Williams Sportsplex. At the end of his long day, he spoke with Blue Devil Nation about the latest in his recruitment, winning a state title, playing at DCC, and a variety of other topics.
Can you talk about winning the state title?
It was a great experience. We came close to winning it the year before, but didn’t and we knew those guys would likely get there. It was great to be able to beat them and win a state championship.
How has it been playing alongside and learning from players like DaShonte Riley, Ray McCallum, Jr., Jordan Dumars, and Donnavan Kirk? What kind of advantage do you expect it to give you when you reach the next level?
It’s been a great learning experience, you know. Just going out there and banging against all of those big guys when I was a freshman and a sophomore.
I remember talking [private] to Donnavan and he said you were the “next big thing” at DCC.
Yeah, it was a great chance to be able to go up against guys like him that are playing D-I ball.
Out of all of the guys you’ve faced, who would you say was the best or the toughest to guard?
I couldn’t say any one guy. It’d be too tough.
Now, are most schools recruiting you as a four or a five?
Both really and I think I can play either.
Who are the schools recruiting you hardest now?
Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Tennessee, UConn, Purdue and Duke recently offered me. Oh, and did I say LSU?
Can you give the audience a scouting report on you? What do you think opposing coaches say about you?
That I can step out and hit the face-up jumper, but I’m also stronger and like to do the dirty work inside now. I can rebound on both sides. I can also outrun most bigs too.
In terms of style of play, do you have a preference?
I definitely prefer to run, you know, go up-and-down.
Do you have a time frame in your mind for when you’d like to decide by?
Late in my senior year probably
What was your reaction when you were invited to try out for the USA Team?
Oh, I was very excited. It was a major honor. I was very proud to be invited.
What do you consider to be you r greatest strength right now on the court?
My strength, my rebounding and my shot- blocking
What’s your biggest weakness?
My ball-handling
Defensively, do you prefer to contain your man or take chances going for the shot block? Do you prefer to front your man or play behind him?
I’d rather just contain him. If the shot block is there, then I’ll take it. Oh, and I’d rather play behind my man, but, in this game, Coach sometimes wanted me to front him.
Where do you like to catch it?
Either in the low box or near the foul line
Do you prefer to face-up or play back-to-the- basket?
I can do either. It just depends on who I’m facing.
Back to recruiting, please tell the audience where you’ve visited so far?
Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Miami, and Kentucky
You mentioned before that Duke offered you, which Duke Coaches have you communicated with?
Coach James. He was the one who came up and has been recruiting me.
Have you spoken with Coach K at all?
No, not yet.
But they offered you?
Yes
You obviously go to a very challenging high school both academically and on the court. What’s your impression of Duke as a school and as a program from afar?
It’s a great program. They just won the National Title and it’s a tremendous university too.
Where are you going to camp this year?
I’ve been invited to the NBA 100 and Amare Stoudamire. They said if I played well at the Amare and the LeBron, then I’ll have a chance to go to the Nike Global Challenge.
Lastly, what are you looking for ideally in a college?
I'm looking for a good basketball coach that will help to develop me and a winning program. [/private]
HAMPTON - One of the nations top point guard prospects in his class is L.J. Rose from Houston, Texas. Rose suited up for Houston Hoops in the Nike EYBL Session I in Hampton, Virginia this past weekend and his play did not disappoint.
Rose stands 6-2 and is close to 175 pounds and he attends Houston Second Baptist High School Rose is the son of former Houston Cougar Lynden Rose, who played with Akeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler on their 1982 Final Four team.
SUBSCRIBE TO BLUE DEVIL NATION PREMIUM AND SEE WHAT YOU ARE MISSING. [private]
Levi Randolph is making some noise on the AAU circuit and drawing attention from many schools - BDN Photo
As a junior, Levi Randolph led Bob Jones to the Alabama State Title and was named the 6-A Player of the Year. After playing last year for the Nashville Celtics, he joined the nearby Alabama Challenge AAU program and had a great weekend for them at Session I of EYBL in Hampton, Virginia. After a game in which he dropped twenty-one points and dished four assists in a win over the Metro Hawks of New York, Randolph told Blue Devil Nation about himself.
Can you talk about the experience of winning a state title?
It was a long journey. We had a lot of injuries and fourteen losses, but we got on a streak at the end and won six games in a row. We return four starters though so we should be ready to challenge again next year.
You stepped up and put up a near triple-double in the championship game. Was that an unusually good game for you?
No, I was pretty consistent throughout the season. I won the 6-A Player of the Year. I tried to be pretty consistent.
Are most schools recruiting you as a two or a three?
As a one or a two, actually
Which schools are recruiting you? [private]
Alabama, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Baylor, Marquette, Miami, UVA, Florida, Wake Forest, Oregon St. Ole Miss, and Virginia Tech
Have all of them offered you?
Everyone, but Virginia Tech and Florida
Can you provide the audience with a scouting report on yourself?
(Smiling) I am a scorer. I get to the rim, but I also like to shoot it from deep too. I’ll work very hard too.
Do you prefer to get out and run or play in a more structured, half-court offense?
Either way, I just like to play.
What’s your range?
Half court (laughs). No, I just feel comfortable shooting the ball from the mid-range to the three-point line.
Where do you like to catch it?
Anywhere.
What are your strengths and weaknesses right now?
My strength is my ability to score. My defense is the thing I want to work on most.
What are you looking for in a college?
I’m looking for a place that will make me better academically and as a person. I’d like to go to a winning program too.
Do you do pretty well in school?
Well, I have a 3.8 GPA.
Does playing in the SEC appeal to you? Is location a factor?
I don’t care about either of those things, sir. I’m just looking for those things that I mentioned before.
Do you have a go to move? You used that, sort of, stutter step crossover against Mike (Taylor)?
Yeah, my favorite move is my killer crossover. Actually, don’t put that down. (Laughs) I don’t want anybody to know my secret moves. I sort of took it from watching Allen Iverson.
Is he who you try to model your game after?
Yeah, he was when I was younger, but now it’s Carmelo Anthony. I try to watch his highlights and Kevin Durant’s.
How big are you now?
I’m 6’5” and 180 pounds.
So you still have time to grow another couple of inches?
Yes, sir. I hope so.
Have you begun strength training?
I’ve done a little, but I want to do more.
What would you like to weigh by the time you reach college?
About 185 pounds of muscle (laughs)
Who’s the best player you’ve ever faced?
Reggie Bullock
Have any of the Duke coaches contacted you yet?
No sir. Well, actually my AAU coach on my old team told me that they were interested in me in ninth grade, but I never heard from them again. I always wondered what happened.
Well, I believe they might have some interest in you now.
Really?
Yes. My partner wouldn’t have had me interview you tonight if they didn’t. You may be on their radar.
Wow. That’s amazing.
What do you know about Duke?
I don’t really follow it, but I know they just won the national title. I only really get to watch highlights on Sportscenter in the morning with breakfast.
Well, you’re busy studying. How about Coach K?
I think he was the coach of the USA team, right?
Yeah.
Would you be interested in Duke, if they start to recruit you?
Yes, definitely. My friend at school just loves Duke. He loves everything about them. I’d like to visit Duke, if they’re interested in me.
Well, maybe you two could visit together if all comes together.
Yes, sir.
Finally, what would you like the audience to know about you away from the court?
I’m a funny guy, but I’m also a good student and approachable. I try to nice to everybody in school. If you’re a stranger, you can always approach me and I’ll be happy to talk to you. (Hugs BDN)
HAMPTON - Tony Parker is a 6’9,” 270 lb sophomore from Miller Grove high school in Lithonia, Georgia. He was selected last May to be a part of the twelve-member inaugural USA Basketball Men's Developmental National Team. Parker plays both center and power forward for the Georgia Stars AAU program. After a 21 point, 8 rebound game against the Charlotte Royals at the Boo Williams Sportsplex, he spoke with Blue Devil Nation about a variety of issues.
How was your season?
Well, it was good, but tough. I got injured at the end and basically missed the postseason. I had a couple of injuries, so that was tough.
You looked completely healed. Is everything cool for you, health wise?
Oh, yeah. Everything’s better now, but the timing was just bad. We won twenty-two straight and, with seven sophomores, we should be able to compete for a title in the future.
Can you talk about the experience of making and playing on the USA team?
Oh, that was a great experience. It was probably the best I’ve had so far. There was so much competition. I mean everybody could play and everybody went hard. My roommate, Johnny O’Bryant, is out here right now. He was playing so well. [private]
Yeah, he competes so hard, compared to some other bigs. I don’t know he sustains it sometimes. What was he like as a roommate?
He’s a funny dude, but, yeah, you’re right. He goes hard all the time. Some guys think they’re going hard or try to make it look like they are. We had so much fun out there competing and hanging out.
A kid I know a little bit from my area is Kyle Anderson. He was talking about how difficult the competition was.
Yeah, and it was especially tough for guys from the East to get used to the altitude. That altitude will make you feel like you’re choking a little bit up there. We were also some of the younger guys too.
Let’s talk about your recruitment. Do you have any timeframe for when you’d like to decide by?
Not really. Probably the end of next summer, but I’m not sure.
Are most programs recruiting you as a four or a five? Do you have any preference?
I’ll play either and they’re recruiting me for both. I just look at it as I’m a basketball player. Just roll the ball out there and I’ll play.
In this game, they put a seven footer on you and you played almost exclusively back-to-the-basket. Do you prefer to play back-to-the-basket or face-up?
I definitely need to work on my face-up game. Right now, I just like playing with my back-to-othe-basket and killing them with my drop-steps.
Do you consider that to be your go-to move right now?
That’s a good question. That’s a real good question. I guess my favorite move right now is drop-step middle.
You like to use that backboard, if need be.
Yeah, you get a more of a chance to see the basket and use that backboard, if you have to.
What kind of style of play are you looking for?
It doesn’t matter. I’ll play any way you want.
I would think with your ability to run the court that an up-tempo offense would take advantage of your strengths.
Yeah, I can definitely outrun most big guys, but I’m open to anything.
Where do you like to catch it?
The low box-either side, really
Have you taken any visits so far?
Just Tennessee, Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Auburn
Who’s the best player you’ve faced so far?
In my freshman year, they put me on Derrick Favors. Oh, man, he was a beast to guard, especially as a freshman. That was, by far, my toughest match-up so far.
What do you think you can bring to a program?
I can run the court, rebound, score a lot around the basket, and just compete. I’ve got great hands too.
Yeah, you do.
You know what the trick is? It’s those grip balls. You can just be sitting on the couch and using those things and it really helps your hands and wrists and stuff.
If you were defending yourself, what’s your biggest weakness right now?
Oh, my ankle really. I want to work on my face-up game too.
What are you looking for ideally in a college?
Strong values in the coaches, a winning program, do they develop big men or do they just throw them out there because they have to, does every big man have at least one move, and do they get them the ball. I’m going to be looking for that. I want to see a track record. I mean that’s one thing about UConn is they have a track record of developing big guys. Their big men get better and play in the league too. So, I’ll be looking at a lot of things.
Do you have any player that you try to emulate?
Dwight Howard. He competes and he’s got so many moves and he’s from my area too.
Will location be a factor?
No, I’ll go anywhere.
How big are you now and what are you projected to grow to by the time you reach college?
Well, they say I’ll be about 6’10,” but I’m 6’9,” 270 right now. My dad’s actually only a normal sized guy, like, maybe, 5’ 8” or 5’10” or something.
Have you spoken with any of the Duke coaches?
Yeah, I have. I actually visited Duke with my friend Evan Nolte. He’s a player too. Do you know him?
Oh, yeah.
Well, we went up there and they took us around and I talked to Coach K for like twenty minutes.
What was your impression of Coach K?
He’s just a great coach. He’s a funny guy, too but serious too. I always think that meeting was the reason I made the USA team or at least it helped.
Well, the man has some power with the USA team. It couldn’t have hurt.
Definitely
So you got to see the facilities and his office. They say it has a finger-touch entrance or something.
(laughs) Yeah, well, it kind of looked like the President’s office. I knew Mason Plumlee a little bit from playing against him too.
Where’d you play against him?
At this event called the Chick-Fil-A
Now, you’re recovering from the injuries, but are you already planning on doing some strength and conditioning.
Yep, those are killers, man, but you’ve got to do them. I work out with about five guys. We do a lot of running.
Do you work on just speed or adding strength?
We do it all. That’s the time of year when you have to get after it. I’m trying to add some upper body strength.
Do you know where you’re going to camps this year?
I was planning on going to the NBA Camp, but, now, I was talking with some people about not going because of the USA team. There are time conflicts and I want to be in shape for the USA team. I don’t want to get worn out by the NBA Camp. The better competition is going to be out in Colorado.
Lastly, what would you like the audience to know about you away from the court?
That I look like a mean player on the court, but I’m a nice guy off of it. I’m a fun guy to hang around with off the court and laugh with, but I’m a nasty guy on that court. [/private]
HAMPTON - Duke prospect Quincy Miller [6-9 Winston Salem, N.C., Quality Education, D-One Sports] was a scoring machine during the Nike EYBL Session I AAU event in Hampton, Virginia. Miller was finding various ways of scoring and he was clearly one of the most talented players at the camp. Miller showed steady improvement from a year ago and he is a consensus top ten pick in his class. Currently ranked 6th by Prep Stars, Miller took the time to talk with the Blue Devil Nation in the following interview. We also chatted with his AAU coach and got his thoughts on the budding star as well.
You look better than you did a year ago on the court and l...
I've just been working on my game, my jump shot and my handle and becoming a team player
Where do you stand on the recruiting front?
I'm [private] not close to making a decision and I don't think I will be until next year. Not sure of the time period, but next year.
Who will play a big role in your decision?
Really my mom. She will go on the visits with me and help me make my decision.
And your current list of schools?
Duke, Kentucky, Wake Forest, Memphis, Kansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, uh, that's all I can think of.
A lot of people have said you are a Kentucky lean.
[smiling] Everybody thinks so because I took a couple of visits. You know, they seem to think I'm going thee or something.
Duke is on your list, did you watch them win the title?
Yeah, I was cheering for them
Do you have friends on their team?
Andre Dawkins and Nolan Smith.
What do you think of Coach K?
Greatest coach in the nation right now.
Do you have a relationship with him?
Yeah, were close, me and Coach K are real cool.
What do you feel like you can improve upon with your game?
I still can improve on everything. [said with emphasis] My game is not nearly where I want it to be.
What is it like to have so many people pulling at you being one of the top rated players inb your class?
I kind of have like a tight circle, so it's not a real problem.
You seem to love social networking?
Yeah, I just have a lot of fun. I'm a fun kid and just want it to be light. I'm just having fun and taking advantage of the hour.
Any official or unofficial visits set?
Not that I know of yet.
Will you be making any plans soon?
Yes sir. I'll probably set some up by the end of summer.
And your list of schools?
Duke, Wake Forest, Kentucky, South Carolina, N.C. State ... that's it.
Will you take all five official visits before deciding on a school?
Yeah, I will take all five. [nodding]
What are you looking for in a school?
A comfort level and if their style of play will fit my style and a coach. I want a coach that can take my game to a whole new level.
What kind of guys do you want to play with in college?
Team players. I'm a team player and I want to play with team players. I like to get up and go [run].
With his length size and athleticism he can get a lot done around the basket. I do think his future is a perimeter face up guy, so I have been working with him. He has a little more freedom. I have been working off him coming off screens and getting use to the dribble, drive and he should be able to show his strengths a little bit more.
What is it like coaching one of the best prospects in the nation?
It's not a problem, I've been with Tyreke Evans before, so it's nothing new. Brian Clifton has some years now in D-One sports and he is involved with his recruitment. When Brian is busy with John Wall now, I'm kind of walking around Quincy to know he's straight. He will sit down with Brian and his family and they'll make a decision.
Where can Miller improve?
Playing every possession. Learning to play every possession without taking one off.
How do you see Miller being used in college?
I think he will be a face up power forward. He's a leader and his teammates love him. He can be a Kevin Durant type. [/private]
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