Monthly Archives: August 2010

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BDN has the latest on 2012’s Amile Jefferson

Amile Jefferson in Cameron during the TOC - Photo BDN

Standing at  6'8" Amile Jefferson, a  rising junior forward from Philadelphia has enjoyed a quality AAU season, winning the inaugural Fab 48 Tournament in Las Vegas while developing his perimeter skills over the past few months. The Friends Central star updated Blue Devil Nation on the latest with his game and recruitment as well as his relationships with Team Philly teammate Savon Goodman and Duke recruit Shabazz Muhammad.

How do you feel you've been playing this AAU season?

I think we've been playing pretty well as a team. We have a great team this year. We've got a nice mix of great shooters and great athleticism, with guys like Savon Goodman. I'm on a good team and I just want to keep pushing us to win as a group.

Do you feel guys can win this one?   You've got a nice team and a great one-two punch for your level in you and Savon.

I think it's attainable. Yes, for us to win this, it's going to take us going to bed on time. Discipline. Yes, discipline. It's going to be all about discipline. You know we're in Las Vegas and there are plenty of distractions available to us if we allow ourselves to get caught up in that, but we have to concentrate on why we're here. You know we lost our head coach this week.

 Yeah, I noticed. What happened?

Well, that was a tough loss for us, but, unfortunately, he wasn't able to[private]  make it out here for us. He had some personal problems that he had to take care of and I think I'll leave it at that.

Sure, sure. Well, hopefully, he'll be able to solve whatever problems are currently going on in his life.

Yes, hopefully, but it's important that we focus on the task at hand and just come out and play hard in every game we have left for the rest of the summer. I think if we do come and play hard, we'll be in a very good position to be able to keep winning games together.

In terms of you personally, how do you think you've grown, since we last spoke, which was, I believe, in early May or late April in Indiana? It looks like your pipes have grown at least a tiny bit or at least you're not covering them with the white t-shirts.

(laughs) Well, hopefully, they've grown. I'm not really concentrating on my conditioning as much as I am my ball-handling and perimeter shooting. That's been my thing that I've spent the most down time on.

Trying to develop into more of a three than a four?

Yes, I'm trying to develop into more of a three than a four. I've been working on my shot and I've got to be able to handle the ball and, you know, right now, I'm feeling much more comfortable handling the ball.

 Now, have you tried to consciously work on different positions or your versatility when you're switching between the Team Philly Sixteens and Seventeens?

Mostly, as you know, when I'm playing with the sixteens, I'm working on my versatility and playing more of a versatile game. I'm working on my dribbling and..

You're a little more creative I've got to say.

Yeah, a little more creative definitely with the Sixteens. On the seventeens, I've got to do what I can. If it's blocking shots, defending various guys, just rebounding, I've got to do it.

You're more of a role player for the Seventeens, helping out in whatever way the coach needs you to do for a particular game.

Yes, absolutely, more of a role player on that team. People are always interested in recruiting.

Which schools do you feel are recruiting you most aggressively or hardest right now?

Right now, I feel that I'm wide open. I feel like I've got plenty of time to think about that decision, but right now I've got schools like Villanova, Georgetown, Stanford, Wake Forest, West Virginia, Syracuse, Ohio State, Butler, and Texas. So, you know, we have some good options right now and hopefully in the future.

 Forgive me, but are all of those offers or a mix of offers and interest?

Yes, a mix.

Now have you taken any visits recently or do you have any planned?

I haven't taken any visits this summer, but I've been to Syracuse's camp. I went up to Georgetown. I've been to Nova's Midnight Madness and also went to Duke's Camp.

 Do you have any planned visits coming up?

I'm hoping that in late August and early September I can check out some schools. So, hopefully, that works out.

Do you still really view this as pretty early in the overall process for you?

Oh, yes, definitely

How do you like playing with Savon (Goodman)?

He brings a mix of power and athleticism. Yes, he's very athletic. When I drive and they double, it helps to have someone like him who can just finish. He throws them down so violently that it takes a toll..

Psychologically?

(laughs) Yeah, exactly, psychologically, it takes a toll on them. You see guys just, sort of, throw in the towel after a few of them. They just get out of the way or go through the motions and kind of concede the game after a while.

 You guys can both play the wing on this team. Even though this isn't exactly structured, did you guys immediately mesh or did it take some time to work on spacing, which sides you're more comfortable playing on, who was going to play inside, etcetera?

Definitely not, because I love to pass the ball and we can play all sorts of ways. We can go high-low if we're on the same side. We run screen-and-rolls a lot. I feel like I can hit the mid-range off of them.

He's a little bit shorter than you, but very strong, which allows him to play inside and really compete against guys that are several inches taller.

 Yeah, he's very strong and he can go in there against guys that are much bigger.

We talked about it before, but are you owing to transfer to a new school?

No, that was just a rumor (laughs).

Yeah, a rumor. Well, we'll leave it at that. Of all the tournaments or events that you've been at, which one has been your favorite?

 So far, Indiana.

 Oh, the one we talked at.

Yeah, I had fun in Indiana. Oh, and West Virginia. I thought we played great there as a unit, especially at the end. Last week.

How do you feel you played there?

Yeah, last week. I thought I played okay. (laughs) Alright, I thought I played well. We made it to the Final Four, but we lost on a buzzer-beater.

 Referees. (laughs)

Oh, you heard about it. (laughs)

Of all the different guys that you've had to guard this year, who's been the hardest to check?

 I'm not sure how to pronounce his name, but it's like Cha Chane Behanan?

Yeah, exactly, he was really hard to put a body on.

Yeah, he caused a lot of problems when we played him in Pittsburgh.

He's kind of similar in build to Savon. Except a couple of inches taller.

Yeah, he is and very strong and athletic.

Speaking of Savon, why don't you give the audience a quick scouting report on him?

Savon is a great, athletic player. He rebounds the ball very well for his size- because of his strength and complements me very well. Defensively, he's a difference-maker and makes the game easier for me because I don't have to guard the other team's toughest matchup.

Have you guys talked about playing in college together or is it more of a matter of "If it happens, it happens?"

Not really because we're both pretty much wide open. We have talked about it, but, right now, we're just enjoying high school.

Absolutely, enjoy these times. I was just curious. Who are some other guys that you're tight with on a national level?

Sure, I'm friends with a lot of the guys on the Adidas Nations teams. Of those guys, I'm closest with Shabazz Muhammad.

 Oh, he's a very nice kid to deal with.

 Yeah, he's very, very nice.

 Also driven and just a tremendous natural scorer.

Absolutely, tremendously talented.

I can see why you two would hit it off. He's similar to you, in terms of being a cool, likable guy to deal with off the court, but oozing with talent on it.

(laughs) Yeah, hopefully. The other guy I'm close with D'Vauntes (Smith-Rivera). He's really good.

Yeah, it was a shame he got hurt so early in the summer.

Yeah, I hope he can get back to the way he was, but that's why I like their events so much because it's not just a collection of players.

They've really collected a lot of talented players, who are also good guys that are easy to hang out with off of the court. I didn't know if Adidas and Mats (Adidas Nations Director Darren "Mats" Matsubara) would be successful, but they've really pulled it off.

 Yeah, they have and it's been fun to be a part of.

Now, has Duke contacted you recently?

If they have, they would've talked to my father. He's actually right over there,

Oh, that's your father.

(laughs)Yeah, he's had to coach us since our regular coach wasn't able to make it. He handles almost all of my recruiting.

I hadn't seen him at some of the other events. That's cool that he was able to make this one for you. I think you have a really good shot at winning it. You've got a few inches on your dad now. Of course, I'm jealous of both of you.

(laughs) Yeah, yeah, but it's not always an advantage.

I'd take my chances. Lastly, what would you like the audience to know about you away from the court?

That I'm a cool kid, who's easy to hang out with and doesn't do anything bad off of it. I just play basketball and go to school. Nothing too much right now, but, right now, that's my life.

Alright, well, thank you very much.

Of course. [/private]

Duke Football

Duke lands Chris Tavarez and he discusses his decision with BDN

With football practice starting today some of you may think Duke is putting recruiting on the back burner but that is not the case for the Blue Devils landed a solid defender just hours ago.  Atlanta's Chris Tavarez [5-10, 192 West Lakes HS, Atlanta, Georgia] committed to Duke University citing their early interest as a key factor.  Tavarez is known for dishing out some rattling hits on the gridiron and his abilities allow him to play several different positions.  Without further ado take a listen to what the latest Duke Blue Devil has to say about his decision -

Juat press play -

Duke Basketball

Ryan Kelly and Andre Dawkins help lead D-One to the N.C. Pro Am title

Ryan Kelly - photo by Lance King images for BDN

DURHAM, N.C. - Two Duke Blue Devils were a part of another championship as rising sophomores Ryan Kelly and Andre Dawkins helped D-One to the title at the N.C. Pro Am.

D-One scored 135 points to defeat Hendrick's who had buy 124 in an All Star Game atmosphere where defense was in short supply.  But that doesn't mean guys were not making plays and Kelly and Dawkins showed a lot of drive to be a part of the last team standing on Sunday afternoon.

The two Blue Devils were joined by new New York Knick and UNC alum Raymond Felton and for Pack standout Josh Powell.  Felton did a good job running the team and ended the contest with 28 points but it was Josh Powell's [33 points] play which helped D-One control the inside game.

Andre Dawkins had a stretch where he missed five straight shots, but like a shooter he kept putting the ball up and ended the game with 18 points and as usual the vast majority of his points came on the three ball.

Kelly added 16 points but played all facets of the game well and was named the winner of the Rodney Rodger's Spirit Award before the game started.  During the presentation it was stated that Kelly was the player most guys wanted to play with, meaning he is a good teammate who actually plays team ball instead of always looking for his shot.

Another former UNC player Jawad Williams added 16 for the losing team.

This years event shed a lot of light on off season improvement of several Blue Devil players and we'll recap each one and hear from Ryan Kelly shortly, so stay tuned to BDN as we wind up our annual coverage on the N.C. Pro Am.

Duke Basketball, Duke Football

Monday Musings – Pro Am, Football Practice and more

Kyrie Irving, pixbyrick.com/BDN

There is always a lot going on if you cover Duke Athletics and as a busy summer around here gives way to September, Duke Football hits the field.  In fact, they hold their first practice this evening where Coach David Cutcliffe will continue to work on getting the Blue Devils to a bowl game.

Duke is picked fifth by the ACC media in their division which features in my opinion, the four best teams.  In fact all of the teams ahead of Duke are ranked in the season's first Top 25 poll.  Before Duke worries about Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Miami, they will focus on the business at hand which is the opener against Elon.

They will then turn their attention to an early season ACC battle on the road at Wake Forest before coming home to face the nation's number one team in Alabama who returns a ton of talent including last years Heisman Tropy winner Mark Ingram.

BDN will attend practices to bring you our usual coverage, so if you are a football fan be sure to bookmark the Blue Devil Nation.

John Wall and company fall to  Wheel Chair All Stars

Where else can one find the NBA's number one draft pick, John Wall playing hoops in a wheel chair?  The answer is at the N.C. Pro Am, an event that wrapped up another strong season this past Sunday

Wall was unable to participate in a real game due to contractual obligations with the Washington Wizards but he told BDN that he wanted to see what it was like to play without the use of his legs to give him a better understanding of the plight some must go through.

Area participants filled the wheel chair game earlier and Wall joined C.J. Leslie and others to take on the all stars from the first contest.  Several crowd pleasing moments ensued, bringing some light moments.  In the end, Wall and company shot all clankers and were handed a 15-0 loss.

Also there promoting his foundation, Rodney Rodgers, the former Wake Forest star and Durham native spoke to the crowd about his hope to walk again against all odds.  Rodgers was also able to shed light on his foundation which can be found on line by a simple google search for those interested in supporting his cause.

Blue Devils solid at the Pro Am

We'll touch on the N.C. Pro Am's final day a bit here, but an article will follow.  In short, all of the Blue Devils had their moments in the event and we will break down our thoughts on each player in the coming week and talk of off season improvements.  BDN has covered this event since it's inception and will continue to for we feel it is a very positive and good experience for Triangle area fans.

Recruiting

We will focus on Duke Football recruiting more and more now that the dust has cleared on a few things we have been working on behind the scenes.  Cutcliffe and company have the bulk of their allotment filled but there are some key recruits we'll keep an eye on down the stretch.

Basketball is on somewhat of a hold with Coach Krzyzewski and Chris Collins doing duty for Team USA.  Of course, Duke's Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith are with them for now in New York but they will return in a week or so, yet the coaches will be gone another month or so.

As for the Austin Rivers watch, I can tell you that he will not do a thing before the Duke coaches return, so the daily watch to see what he eats for breakfast to provide a sign is fruitless.  We will have an interview up shortly with Amile Jefferson to update his recruitment and will have more on other targets as well.

Vincent Rey makes his mark with the Bengals

Duke will sorely miss linebacker Vincent "Vinnie" Rey this coming season but the Devils loss could be the Bengals gain.  Rey had five tackles in Cincinnati's 16-7 loss to the Cowboys in the NFL's pre season opener.  BDN will keep an eye on his play as the pres season progresses.

Video coming to BDN

We wanted to refine things a bit before we moved into video and in the coming months you will get a taste of vids BDN style.  We are in negotiations with three different service and will inform you when the dust clears.

In closing ...

I admittedly am not a big fan of sites like Bleacher Report where anybody off the streets can pen something good or bad on their team.  Most of the time little research is done on these sites and opinion is often stated as fact, but I think Justin McTeer is the exception and he has a nice piece up on Seth Curry so check it out here.

We'd also like to encourage Duke fans to visit Duke Update and Duke Report, two solid link sites for all things Duke.  Duke Update is one of the original Duke Sites on the net where Jason D'Amico works it as a labor of love not taking one dime from advertising.  Duke Report is the new kid on the block, but they do a great job as well and BDN enjoys working with these two sites. 

 
 

 

Duke Football

Optimism Surrounds Duke Football

Optimism surrounds Duke Football as the third season under Coach David Cutcliffe is set to commence. The Blue Devils will take to the practice field on Monday having won nine football games in Cutcliffe's first two seasons, an accomplishment which may not impress a casual observer, but for a program which won only eight games over the five seasons prior to Cutcliffe's arrival, it signifies significant progress toward reestablishing pride in a program which has deep historical success.

Duke has played in eight bowl games including six New Year's Day games between 1939 and 1961 (actually two of the games were played on January 2nd). Those six New Year's Day bowl appearances include two trips to the Rose Bowl and Orange Bowl, and one trip to the Sugar Bowl and Cotton Bowl. Duke achieved a 2 - 4 record in those six games:

- Rose Bowl (January 2, 1939): Wallace Wade's famed Iron Dukes enter the game against Southern California undefeated, untied, and unscored upon. Duke holds a slim 3-0 lead when the Trogans scored on an 18 yard pass with 40 seconds left in the game to secure a 7-3 victory.

- Rose Bowl (January 1, 1942): The game is played at Durham Stadium (renamed Wallace Wade Stadium in 1967), due to a ban on large crowds on the West Coast, in the aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor less than a month earlier. Oregon State defeats Duke 20-16 in a thrilling game before 56,000 spectators.

- Sugar Bowl (January 1, 1945): Coach Eddie Cameron's Blue Devils roll up 336 yards of rushing in a 29-26 victory for the Southern Conference Champions over the Alabama Crimson Tide.

- Orange Bowl (January 1, 1955): Returning to bowl action, after a 10 year absence, ACC Champion Duke rolls over Nebraska 34-7.

- Orange Bowl (January 1, 1958): Oklahoma converts six Duke turnovers into touchdowns enroute to a 48-21 victory over the Blue Devils.

- Cotton Bowl (January 2, 1961): the Blue Devils march 73 yards to score with 2:45 remaining in the game to notch a 7-6 victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks.

While returning to a New Year's Day bowl game, or more accurately stated in today's vernacular a trip to a BCS Bowl, is definitely a future goal, the immediate objective for Blue Devil fans is to see their team qualify for any bowl game. Duke hasn't been to a bowl game since a January 2, 1995 appearance in the Hall of Fame Bowl, in which Wisconsin defeated Duke 34-20. Duke's last bowl game victory was the 7-6 win over Arkansas, in the Cotton Bowl, on January 2, 1961.

Coach Cutcliffe has the background to lead Duke to bowl game success. At Mississippi, he compiled a 44-29 record and coached the Rebels in five bowl games, over seven seasons, rolling up a 4-1 record, including a 31-28 victory over Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl. Current New York Giant quarterback, and Super Bowl XLII Most Valuable Player, Eli Manning was the signal caller for Mississippi in that Cotton Bowl victory. As the Offensive Coordinator at Tennessee, Cutcliffe coached Super Bowl XLI Most Valuable Player Peyton Manning as well as Heath Shuler and Erik Ainge.

Coach Cutcliffe's success with quarterbacks is a major source behind the current optimism in Durham. Projected starter Sean Renfree has the skills to excell as the leader of an offensive unit with the most talented receiving corps in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Renfree completed 34 of 50 passes for 330 yards and four touchdowns as a backup to Thaddeus Lewis last season. Renfree, who redshirted in 2008, has been being groomed by Cutcliffe since his arrival in Durham.

Taking a look at the talented receiving corps, junior Donovan Varner was a preseason All-ACC selection, while sophomore Conner Vernon earned First Team Freshman All-America honors last season. Duke's third wide receiver, senior Austin Kelly, caught 54 passes for 645 yards in 2009. Seniors Brett Huffman and Brandon King give Duke experience at tight end, while redshirt freshmen Tyree Watkins and Corey Gattis provide depth at wide receiver.

Another reason for the optimism in Durham is the potential pay-off from the strategy of redshirting players over the first two years of Cutcliffe's regime. This season there will be 10 redshirt sophomores and 17 redshirt freshmen on the roster. The redshirt strategy provides a program with depth and experience which are critical elements to competing at the Division 1 level. The Blue Devils should start to reap the benefits in 2010.

Duke faces a couple of tough challenges in the quest to qualify for a bowl game in 2010. First, the schedule is very tough. Second, the team lost many key players off last season's squad, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

In the USA Today preseason Top 25 coaches' poll, five Duke opponents show up in the Top 20: Alabama (1), Virginia Tech (6), Miami (13), Georgia Tech (17) and North Carolina (18). Additionally, Navy (38) and Boston College (40) show up in the other teams receiving votes section. With seven of 12 opponents being amongst the 40 best teams in the nation, Duke will need to be ready to play at their best each and every week of the season.

On defense, with the departure of starters Vince Oghabaase (DT), Vincent Rey (LB), Leon Wright (CB), Ayanga Okpokowuruk (DE) and Catron Gainey (S), new Defensive Coordinator Marion Hobby must devise a strategy which accounts for the Blue Devils youth and emphasize speed. The performance along the defensive line will go a long way toward predicting the success of the defensive unit. As the defensive line goes, the Blue Devils go.

The 2010 season will be a challenge as the Duke Blue Devils attempt to turn the corner under the tutelage of Coach David Cutcliffe. In the end, success will depend upon multiple factors, some of which are fickle, but as the season rapidly approaches, optimism is the noun best associated with Duke Football.

Duke Basketball

Nolan Smith named Most Outstanding Player at the N.C. Pro Am

Noman Smith shined in the spotlight of this years N.C. Pro Am - Photo Blue Devil Nation

DURHAM, N.C. -Despite having to miss the playoffs due to duties with the U.S. Select Team, Nolan Smith was named the Most Outstanding Player in the 2010 North Carolina Pro Am.  Smith dazzled the crowds with dizzying moves, one which appeared on ESPN which serves notice that he will be one of the best guards in the nation this coming season.

Smith's buckets came on a variety of offensive moves, be it snaking through defenders for an easy basket or nailing a three pointer.  The rising Duke senior was quite the showman as well, where he would subtly play to the crowd in the games.

Blue Devil fans have a lot to look forward to in the coming season where they will go for another National Championship with a deep and talented team.  With Nolan Smith returning and Kyle Singler deciding to stay as well, Duke has the best one-two senior punch in the country.

Smith is currently in New York where he is training against the national team, as is Singler and the two are expected to return to the area in a week.  With Smith's continued improvement, he is sure to make many of the pre season All American teams and is a lock for All ACC.

Stay tuned to the Blue Devil Nation as we close out our 2010 N.C. Pro Am coverage.