| 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 be Mike Krzyzewski’s best point guard since Jason Williams,” Konchalski said.
(Photos courtesy Irving Family & AP)
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Big Ben / October 22, 2009
Barnes is also tight(er) with Doron Lamb. Choose Duke and play with Irving, choose OU or Kansas and play with Lamb. Sounds like he’s got a lot of great options. If I had to place a bet I’d go with Kansas for Lamb, which would make them a coin flip for Barnes.
With the “news” that Wall is likely ineligible, it’s less surprising that Eric Bledsoe spurned Mike Davis and Josh Pastner to head to Lexington.
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JessieWildcat / October 22, 2009
Kansas…would not hold your breathe with a D. Lamb commit….
With LAMB contemplating a SPRING decision, I doubt that it will only be a two team race (UK and KU) for Doron.
I would expect at least another team to come into the mix (if things fall threw.)
“My top four teams are…….”
AZ –may have some more news about “D”. Lamb? or Cory J.?
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Big Ben / October 22, 2009
I think if we get Selby, Lamb will be going to Kansas (unless Knight picks Kansas first which I guess is possible). If Kansas gets Selby, Lamb could end up anywhere. Oklahoma and UConn are both ahead of Kentucky for Lamb…
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sweetnessCBA / October 22, 2009
jessiewildcat,
i suggest you get out of your house and do something rather than make a fool of yourself posting on this site, its pathetic and you know it. id love to see what a day in your life consists of.
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RockChalkWoody / October 22, 2009
Jessie, nice guesswork on your part. Do you ever have any facts?
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blasphemy / October 23, 2009
Apparently only when it suits him lol.
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jhawk4 / October 23, 2009
i get the feeling lamb is a slight KU lean, but thats purely speculation on my part. its just the feeling i get. dont know what to think about Barnes, i could see him at Duke, UNC or KU.
I think KU gets either Lamb or Selby. if they get Lamb in the fall (which i thought he was making his decision in the fall?) i bet Selby looks elsewhere, but if Lamb goes elsewhere i think KU puts the full court press on Selby and nabs him in the spring. i have a feeling Knight is going to UK, so that might weigh in Selby’s decision as well.
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