I am seeing a trend in this incoming class. Their fathers played a leading role in their personal and basketball development. I suppose this isn't uncommon, but this group has a strong father/coach dynamic. Coach K says Duke recruits guys with three things: talent, academic capability and character. These Duke dads have been important in keeping these young guys on track.
Recruits' fathers
- Thread starter DukeDenver
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The fathers of most recruits almost always like K and his staff. They are professional and prepared with a plan for their young men.
Humphries, Burgess, and even Irving...their fathers were not the nicest fans of Coach K.
You will notice I said, "most" and Dedrick Irving was very friendly with coach K. So I am not sure what your point was/is here. Have at it though.
For me, maybe others, I find it humorous to see the dads that try to live through their sons and feel their kid is better than the coach's analysis. Kyrie was special and it is well documented his father did not want him to play too soon(after the injury) because it would hurt his draft stock. Fathers like Oak are humble and extremely excited, very little opinions. Parker's dad trusted K's system and even went along with Parker playing pf/c. As for Burgess and Humphries, those dads thought they're kids were better than what everyone saw. For some coaches it can be a headache, but also humorous.
I had the pleasure to sit next to Dedrick Irving during the Acc tournament. Im not sure of anything that he said before that weekend, but he was very anxious to see Kyrie play in the NCAA's.
The decision to play Irving in the tournament was a decision that was made buy the Duke coaches, doctors and Kyries father. Understandably, Mr. Irving was apprehensive with the decision, as any parent would be, but that did not mean he disliked Coach K.
jamsession with the thread derailment. Oh well, I guess that's the point of a message board.
Also, didn't mean to overlook the role Duke moms have played in recent years too. I know Jah's mom (sadly passed) has been a huge motivating force in his life. Tyus was constantly pointing to his mother and brother. And Seth's and Jon's moms motivated us all.
You might not get paid for parenting, but it is incredibly valuable to a community.
Also, didn't mean to overlook the role Duke moms have played in recent years too. I know Jah's mom (sadly passed) has been a huge motivating force in his life. Tyus was constantly pointing to his mother and brother. And Seth's and Jon's moms motivated us all.
You might not get paid for parenting, but it is incredibly valuable to a community.
Seth and Jon's mom's definitely motivated us all. Luke's sister will as well. Go Duke.
And we see what kind of careers both Burgess and Humphries have had. As far as I know Burgess is out of playing and Humphries is best known for marrying Kim Kardashian which is really nothing special because she for sure has had a lot of auditions.OFC
How about the moms? I'm not trying to generalize all women as objects, but we've had some eye candy as of late.
Edit: LOL @ me. I totally missed the above posts about the moms. I thought I read the entire thread. Guess I scrolled past a couple.
Edit: LOL @ me. I totally missed the above posts about the moms. I thought I read the entire thread. Guess I scrolled past a couple.
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Don't mind if I do! lol
Kids from solid, stable homes have all kinds of advantages and head starts in life. It's no mystery K would recruit such kids or that they are well suited for Duke.
In praising K, though, I would not want to make it a competition where someone else has to be criticized, though. For example, while I'm no fan of Jim Calhoun, I think he gets more criticism than he deserves for his players' characters and shenanigans. He's dealing with a very different caliber of recruits than K in many cases. He takes a lot more chances on guys from disadvantaged homes and sketchy pasts. In some well publicized cases, he has been burned. What deserves credit and respect, though, is that a lot of those guys had no real chance but basketball, and were headed for some very tragic, depressing future, and were essentially saved by Calhoun.
Anyhoo, no question K is awesome and our kids are awesome.
I agree with everything you said about K, no question. I just have extremely little respect for both UConn and Calhoun or Auriema. So it's hard for me to give them much credit for some of the positive things they do when the behind closed doors stuff is so so so dirty.