Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
St. Patricks basketball star Kyrie Irving commits to Duke
Kyrie Irving made it official on ESPNU Thursday night, putting on a blue Duke baseball hat and announcing his intention to play for the Blue Devils.
A senior at Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick, Irving chose Duke over Texas A&M and Kentucky, both of which he took official visits to. He canceled visits to Georgia Tech and Seton Hall after deciding to announce.
“I”m pleased to announce that I will be committing to Duke University,” he said. “I will be a Blue Devil next year.”
The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Irving is the No. 4 point guard in the Class of 2010 and the No. 9 overall player, according to Rivals.com.
He joins 6-8 power forward Josh Hairston of Spotslvania, Va., and 6-2 point guard Tyler Thornton of Washington, D.C., in Duke’s 2010 recruiting haul.
Irving said his “relationship with [Coach Mike Krzyzewski] and the whole entire coaching staff” was key to his decision.
“I have a great relationship with everybody, the players, everybody,” he said. “When I went on my official visit [Sept. 25] it felt like home and it’s the place for me.”
Irving’s friend Harrison Barnes, a 6-6 wing from Ames (Iowa) High ranked No. 2 in the Class of 2010, reportedly began his visit to Duke Thursday and it has been no secret that the two would love to play together.
“I’ll let the Duke coaching staff handle that,” Irving said. “Harrison’s like a big brother to me. We talk all the time, but mainly it’s not about Duke. He’s his own man and he’s going to make his own decision and whatever decision he makes I’m going to be happy for him.”
Barnes is also considering North Carolina, Oklahoma, UCLA, Kansas and Iowa State.
As for Irving,Duke desperately needed a quality point guard going forward and they got their man.
“Kyrie Irving, when it’s all said and done, he will arguably be as good as any guard who’s played in New Jersey,” St. Patrick coach Kevin Boyle told me last season. “Any guard. Ever. Ever. DaJuan Wagner, Bobby Hurley, Shaheen Holloway. You’re talking about a guy who’s a great shooter, a great finisher. He’s going to be as good as anybody who’s played in New Jersey.”
One Big East assistant said without pausing: “He’s a pro.”
Tom Konchalski, the longtime New York recruiting analyst, said Irving could potentially follow in the footsteps of Jersey point guards Bobby Hurley and Jason Williams in leading Duke to a national title.
“I think he would probably beMike Krzyzewski’s best point guard since Jason Williams,” Konchalski said.
(Photos courtesy Irving Family & AP)
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Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
Irving’s friend Harrison Barnes, a 6-6 wing from Ames (Iowa) High ranked No. 2 in the Class of 2010, reportedly began his visit to Duke Thursday and it has been no secret that the two would love to play together.
“I’ll let the Duke coaching staff handle that,” Irving said. “Harrison’s like a big brother to me. We talk all the time, but mainly it’s not about Duke. He’s his own man and he’s going to make his own decision and whatever decision he makes I’m going to be happy for him.”
Barnes is also considering North Carolina, Oklahoma, UCLA, Kansas and Iowa State.
As for Irving, Duke desperately needed a quality point guard going forward and they got their man.
“Kyrie Irving, when it’s all said and done, he will arguably be as good as any guard who’s played in New Jersey,” St. Patrick coach Kevin Boyle told me last season. “Any guard. Ever. Ever. DaJuan Wagner, Bobby Hurley, Shaheen Holloway. You’re talking about a guy who’s a great shooter, a great finisher. He’s going to be as good as anybody who’s played in New Jersey.”
One Big East assistant said without pausing: “He’s a pro.”
Tom Konchalski, the longtime New York recruiting analyst, said Irving could potentially follow in the footsteps of Jersey point guards Bobby Hurley and Jason Williams in leading Duke to a national title.
“I think he would probably be Mike Krzyzewski’s best point guard since Jason Williams,” Konchalski said.
(Photos courtesy Irving Family & AP)
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
