Ryan Kelly scored 22 points to help his team advance in the N.C. Pro Am playoffs on Firday evening - Phto Rick Crank/BDN
The North Carolina Pro Am is closing out it's 2010 campaign this weekend as the teams participate in the play offs. On Friday evening, three Duke players helped their teams advance to the Saturday rounds. Seth Curry scored 14 points to go with 4 assists and 3 steals which helped Team Jamison defeat Team Navy 61-46.
The game also featured a up and coming star in Durham Hillside's Torian Graham who has mentioned that he wants Duke and UNC to take a look at him. He is already a key early target for N.C. State. Southern Durham alum and current Miami Hurricane Julian Gamble led Team Jamison with 22 points.
In the evenings best game D-One held off Lucky 7 behind the play of Ryan Kelly [22 points] and Andre Dawkins with 20. Kelly continued to show his off season improvement and he went up against Josh Powell for the evening. Powell finished the game with 15 points and Courtney Fells added a team high 19 for the losers.
Andre Dawkins had just 3 points at the half, but a second half surge helped him end the game with 20. The Pro Am action continues today with the championship game being played Sunday afternoon on the campus of N.C. Central.
Marshall Plumlee looked solid on the offensive end during Tuesday evenings N.C. Pro Am action. Plumlee ended the game with 14 points. Photo copyright Rick Crank and BDN.
It didn't take long for Nolan Smith to pick up where he left off during Tuesday evenings N.C. Pro Am at N.C. Central University. Smith was averaging 38.5 ppg coming in and the rising senior wasted little time in asserting himself slashing through hapless defenders on a variety of dribble drive, stop and juke moves.
Smith closed out his 2010 Pro Am career with 28 points to go with 5 assists, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot. Smith will join the U.S. Select team for more training and he will be flanked by fellow team captain Kyle Singler in New York.
While Smith was once again the star of the game he had help from another teammate and his brother who will be a high school senior this coming season. Mason Plumlee sat out the entire fourth quarter when he tweaked his ankle but still tallied 14 points and 7 rebounds.
The most impressive stat for Plumlee [Mason] were his 3 steals which all led to baskets. In one sequence, he stripped an opposing guard and then threw down a tomahawk slam.
Team Dreamworks also featured future Dukie Marshall Plumlee [14 points] who had his most impressive game of the event. A relaxed Plumlee [Marshall], showed good up and under moves around the basket to go with a good turnaround jump shot. He plays hard at all times and as he gets stronger, he'll certainly one day be a factor for Duke.
Dreamworks ended up walloping Body of Christ 87-76. Justin Thomas scored 22 points for the losing team and he matched up with Mason much of the contest.
In the next contest D-One defeated Lucky 7 75-61 where Duke prospect Quincy Miller led the way with 19 points, while Ryan Kelly added 13, Deuce Bello 8 and Andre Dawkins 6 for the winners.
Kelly dished out several assists to his teammates including three to Miller. Kelly also showed a nice one hander push shot in the paint.
The Blue Devils weren't finished. Kyrie Irving led all Duke scorers with 31 points leading Hendrick's to a 89-79 win over Team Jamison. Irving blew by defenders when he wanted to and dished unofficially 12 assists.
"It's my job to see the court well," said Irving after his contest. The New Jersey native was obviously having fun. His teamate Josh Hairston was most effective on the evening as well.
Hairston added 16 points in his best overall performance of the event. The highlight came when he threw down a strong slam in the open court where he was challenged by Miles Plumlee.
The play lit Hairston up like a Christmas tree as the crowd showed their approval. Hairston was all smiles but if you play the game enough, everybody gets posterized on occasion.
That play seemed to light a fire under Plumlee [Miles] who had just 3 points at half time. The next player who challenged Miles got his shot swatted back past half court as he erupted for 18 second half points which translates to 21 for the contest.
While Hairston showed a soft touch on his perimeter shot, Miles showed off his ability to throw down dunks like it was a two inch putt. But another Devil, Seth Curry also had a big night.
Curry showed off a great stutter step and stop and go moves to free up for shots on his way to 28 points. Curry has a variety of smooth moves and plays in a word silky on the offensive end.
Quincy Miller and Deuce Bello also participated in this game where they played with Miles and Curry. Miller scored 13 points while Bello added 6. Both players showed off their immense potential making plays during their two games.
Miller and Bello still list Duke on their lists. Miller lists Kentucky, Louisville, Duke, Wake Forest, Oklahoma, Texas and Baylor in that order. Bello lists Baylor, Louisville, Miami, Duke, Wake Forest and Clemson.
Bello said their could be a package deal but that each of them would do what is best for them. Brian Clifton was in attendance as well and it seems as if there decisions ill come quite late in the process.
The games will continue this Thursday through Sunday when two teams left standing faceoff for the title. According to sources, the UNC players will return during the playoffs while many of the Duke kids are done for the season.
Mason and Miles Plumlee will serve as councelors at Adidas Nations in Chicago while their brother Marshall will participate in the event. The trio leaves Thursday for the event.
Nolan Smith will join teammate Kyle Singler on the U.S. Select Team in New York this weekend as well. The dynamic duo will be gone for the better part of a week while Coach Collins and Krzyzewski begin a 40 day jaunt with the U.S. National Team.
Singler did not appear in any of the Pro Am games this season and Tyler Thornton while not there last evening is expected to return. As the games draw closer, we'll let you know which players are expected to show, so stay tuned to BDN for our annual N.C. Pro Am coverage.
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Coach David Cutcliffe and the Blue Devil football program received another commitment for the class of 2011 on Monday evening from Blair Holliday, a 6’3” wide receiver from Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, California. BDN caught up with the sure-handed receiver shortly after his commitment.
“My interest in Duke was based on the academics, I mean, Duke is one of the most prestigious colleges in the country academically. That’s what drew me to it first,” Holliday explained, “but then when I went for my visit, I just loved the family atmosphere. Coach Cutcliffe and Coach Lubick and the whole staff are such a family – I knew that coming from California to North Carolina, that would be hard and I would need that kind of family atmosphere. That’s when I knew it was for me.”
Prior to his commitment to Duke, Holliday had received offers from Boise State, Cal Poly, Colorado State, Northern Arizona, and San Diego State, and also had interest from Boston College, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, and UCLA, Utah, and Washington. In his junior season, Holliday hauled in 48 catches for 857 yards, including 8 touchdowns and a 17.5 yards per catch average. Highlights from his junior year can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nug31hJ-IU4.
Blair continued to elaborate on his decision to attend Duke: “Coach Cutcliffe and the staff have really turned the program around, they’re only getting better and better. One of their receivers last year was a freshman All-American [Conner Vernon], and as a receiver that gets you excited. They told me, ‘we love to throw the ball,’ and that’s why their receivers can have such success.“
In closing, Blair wanted the Blue Devil Nation to know the following: “I’m excited to be a Blue Devil. Whatever they need me to do for the team to be successful, I’ll do it. That’s how you win as a team.”
Ever the comedian Nolan Smith poses with incoming Duke freshman Tyler Thornton - copyright BDN Photo
DURHAM, N.C.- One of the top players in the N.C. Pro Am is Duke senior Nolan Smith who has used the event to show off his skills which are improving daily. Smith has been working hard in the off season, attending the Chris Paul and LeBron James Camp and he is playing for the U.S. Select Team. Smith has dazzled the crowds at N.C. Central with his play has brought the crowds to it's feet on several occasions. It's no secret that Duke will likely be the pre season number one team in the nation and a big part of that is Smith's senior leadership. I caught up to Nolan for a one on one chat and hope Blue Devil Nation fans will enjoy the Q & A session with the player everybody wants to hear from.
You just dropped 43 points in a most impressive fashion here at the N.C. Pro Am. I understand that you out a 1000 shots up in a workout earlier today as well.
Andre Dawkins and myself got about 1000 shots in today and I just carried that over to tonight. It's been non stop work and a long hard summer and when I come out here I've got to show what I've worked on. I just wanted to come out here, play hard and make plays.
You just got back from Vegas where you were you joined teammate Kyle Singler. Can you talk about that experience?
Playing with the U.S. Select game was a great experience. I got a chance to see where my game is as I get ready for the next level. It will pay off this coming season where I will show how hard I've worked. Testing myself against those guys [U.S. Team] was amazing. The guard that were out there were great and I got a good feel where I am at.
As good as you were at years end with the win over Butler, you seem much improved in my eyes. Do you feel like you're playing at another level now?
Yes. Getting a lot of shots up this summer and going through the reps has helped and I've gotten stronger. I just wanted the Duke fans and people in this area that I didn't come back this season to mess around and not go for another ring.
What do you feel you need to work on most before going to the next level?
Shooting. At the next level you get a lot of open shots. People tell me that in the NBA you have to hit those open shots. So if my shot becomes real consistent and I go to the basket being strong enough to take contact then my game will be ready.
There is a pretty good freshman named Kyrie Irving joining you in this years backcourt. That's a pretty lethal combination. Can anybody stop you?
I would like to think nobody can stop us. I've seen him play out here and the talent he has, he can score, but he is unselfish and will pass the ball. We've got a great relationship and chemistry is going to show for us. I can't wait for the season to start.
Will the two of you be like dual point guards at times this season?
Oh yeah, definitely. Both of us can score and both of us just want to make plays. When we go out there we're just going to think about winning and everything else will take care of itself.
You were voted class president as a senior in high school, you love to smile and bring smiles, you tweet with the best of them and brought the house down with your antics during last seasons Countdown to Craziness. Where does that sense of fun come from?
My sense of humor comes from who I am, my family and who my Dad was. I love this game and I love the fans who love these games so I always feel like I owe them. They're appreciative of my game and Duke. I love letting them know about me and who I am and I try to share some of that.
Your play resemble that of an All American. Do you feel like you should be first or second team going into the season?
My mom told me good things come to those who wait. If you try to go get it too soon it'll never happen so I have been patient and I am thankful
What can you do for an encore after averaging 39 ppg at the N.C. Pro Am?
That's it for me and I'd like to be here but I have to go to New York to be with the Select Team.
You've tasted a national championship. How hungry is Nolan Smith?
Very hungry. Probably hungrier than last year. Last year we didn't know we could do it and this year you know you can do it. I had a chance to talk to Lamar Odom and he just said, it doesn't get much better than winning championships. He said to go out there and relax and things will come your way.
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Singler signs for fans after the Duke Basketball Banquet. Singler and Smith will plya for the US Select team
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke seniors Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith have accepted invitations from USA Basketball to participate on the USA Men's Select Team that will train against 2010 USA Men's World Championship Team finalists during camp in New York City. Singler and Smith both participated with the USA Select Team during July’s training camp for the USA World Championship Team in Las Vegas.
Joining the Duke tandem on the Select Team are JaJuan Johnson (Purdue); Jon Leuer (Wisconsin); Shelvin Mack (Butler); Chris Singleton (Florida State); Howard Thompkins (Georgia); Mike Tisdale (Illinois); Kemba Walker (Connecticut); and Chris Wright (Dayton). Villanova head coach Jay Wright will also return to direct the 2010 USA Select Team in New York.
"One of the great developments of our Las Vegas camp was the USA Select Team which consisted of juniors and seniors out of the college ranks that we brought in to scrimmage against the USA National Team. Lorenzo Romar and Jay Wright did a terrific job of coaching the select players in Las Vegas. It worked so well we've decided to bring to New York a smaller group of players from that Select Team to do the same thing. They were very valuable to us and it's a great experience for them," said USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo.
The 10 returning members of the USA Select Team will gather in New York on Aug. 9, and train against the USA World Championship Team finalists on Aug. 10 (1-3 p.m. EDT at John Jay College); Aug. 11 (1-3 p.m. EDT at John Jay College); Aug. 12 (time and site TBD); and Aug. 13 (11 a.m-12:30 p.m. EDT at the New York Knicks practice facility, Tarrytown, N.Y.).
While all 10 Select Team members gained USA Basketball experience during the July 19-24 USA National Team training camp in Las Vegas, six of the selected collegians also boast of prior USA Basketball experience. Mack and Thompkins were members of USA Basketball's 2009 U19 World Championship Team that finished 9-0 in New Zealand to claim the gold medal. Additionally, Singler and Smith were teammates on the USA's 2006 U18 Team that captured gold at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship and they were again teammates on the 2007 USA Junior National Select Team that defeated an international select team in the Nike Hoop Summit. Walker was a member of the 2008 USA FIBA Americas U18 Championship Team that collected a silver medal and was named MVP of the tournament, while Johnson has USA Basketball experience through the 2009 USA Basketball Trials.
Featuring players from nine different colleges, Duke is the only institution to boast two players. The 10 Select Team players include five who will be seniors in 2010-11 and five who will be juniors.
Coach David Cutcliffe and the Blue Devil football program received another commitment for the class of 2011 on Monday evening from Blair Holliday, a 6’3” wide receiver from Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, California. BDN caught up with the sure-handed receiver shortly after his commitment.
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