The ACC School Mount Rushmores: Duke FINAL
Duke’s basketball history is not unlike Notre Dame’s football history–so many names. Only the names are clustered into the past 30 or so years, reflecting the glory days of Duke hoops. So picking the 4th is a challenge.
With so many names to choose from, it is hard to choose one. Johnny Dawkins put up incredible points, all before the 3-point shot. Shane Battier was the ultimate glue guy and winner. Grant Hill was a dominant small forward. JJ Reddick was a scorer deluxe, who turned into a great all-around player.
But the Confidential is going to go with Bobby Hurley. Here is why:
- Like Hill, won two National Championships
- Still the all-time NCAA leader in assists, with 1,076
- Was M.O.P. of the 1992 Final Four.
- Was First-Team All-American in 1993.
- Duke retired his jersey in 1993.
Hurley now continues the Duke tradition as a head coach for Buffalo. He is one of many Coach K products to elevate to that level, joining Dawkins, Tommy Amaker, Mike Brey, and others.
So, with all due respect to the other great players at Duke, the final Duke Mount Rushmore is: Coach K, Christian Laettner, Art Heyman, and Bobby Hurley.
Other Mount Rushmores:
- Maryland Preliminary Maryland Final
- Boston College Boston College Final
- Wake Forest Wake Forest Final
- Miami Miami Final
- Virginia Tech Virginia Tech Final
- Syracuse Syracuse Final
- Virginia Virginia Final
- Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Final
- North Carolina State North Carolina State Final
- Clemson Clemson Final
- Georgia Tech Georgia Tech Final
- Louisville Lousiville Final
- Notre Dame Notre Dame Final
- Duke
- North Carolina
- Florida State
For more on the Duke decisions, see the original discussion…