Just for Fun: Duke Recruiting by Geography

[tommy]

I was thinking recently about the incredible success Duke has had recruiting all over the map in the Coach K era and it got me to thinking: From how many of the 50 states has K successfully recruited players to Duke? So I started making a list off the top of my head. No fun to just look it up. But who have I missed? Help me out and let's see who else belongs on this list and how many states we've gotten players from in the K era. I count 29 states, which is amazing. Who/where have I missed? (don't cheat!)

Alabama:
Alaska: Langdon, Boozer
Arizona: Alarie
Arkanasas:
California: Bilas, Parks, Meek, Burgess, Nelson, Boykin, T King
Colorado: Jay Bryan (can't believe I remembered him)
Connecticut: McClure
Delaware: Boateng
D.C.: Dawkins
Florida:
Georgia: Avery
Hawaii:
Idaho:
Illinois: Weldon Williams, Collins, Phil Henderson, Maggette, Scheyer
Indiana: McRoberts
Iowa:
Kansas:
Kentucky:
Louisiana: Duhon
Maine:
Maryland: John Smith, Ferry, Wojo, Nate James, Brian Davis, Nolan
Massachusetts:
Michigan: Battier
Minnesota: Todd Anderson, Horvath
Mississippi:
Missouri: C-Well
Montana:
Nebraska: Jackman
Nevada: Czyz
New Hampshire:
New Jersey: Alaa, Hurley, J Williams, Lance Thomas, Zoubek
New Mexico: Domzalski
New York: Laettner, Brand, Paulus
North Carolina: too many to name, including D Henderson, Shav, Brickey
North Dakota:
Ohio: Nessley
Oklahoma: Shelden Williams
Oregon: Dunleavy, Singler
Pennsylvania: Gerald Henderson
Rhode Island:
South Carolina:
South Dakota:
Tennessee: Elliot Williams
Texas: Thomas Hill, Ewing
Utah:
Vermont:
Virginia: many, including Grant Hill, Amaker, JJ
Washington: Snyder
West Virginia:
Wisconsin:
Wyoming:

Pretty amazing. I'm sure I've forgotten many. Have we really not gotten anyone from Florida? One guy from Ohio? One guy from Pennsylvania? Big states with lots of ballers. Surprising we haven't hit there more often. But still an incredibly wide geographic net we've cast over the years.

[mpc]

Casey Sanders was from Tampa, Florida I believe

[pete]

Don't forget Darius Nelson brother of Markie a 15 year old 6"6 Freshman at Sheldon High who is averaging 20 ppg and 9 rpg and can shoot the three. Class of 2011. A side note my 3 and one year old have Division I type knowledge of the Diamond and One Defense and can roll out a wicked 3 man weave in the living room with me. Class of 2022 and 2024 respectively. The first sentence is factual.

[ArkieDukie]

How could you forget the great state of Arkansas, home to Patrick and Jordan Davidson! Do they count since both are walk-ons?

[pete]

You bet they do!

[Stray Gator]

Tony Lang is from Mobile, Alabama, and Casey Sanders is from Tampa, Florida. (In fact, my daughter and a couple of her friends ran into Casey at MacDinton's Irish Pub here in Tampa last Friday night before Gasparilla Day.)

[Karl Beem]

Carmen Wallace was also from Delaware.

[Madrasdukie]

Kentucky: Vince Taylor (Lexington, KY), Andre Buckner (Hopkinsville, KY)

Massachussets: Matt Christensen (Belmont, MA), Joe Pagliuca (Weston, MA)

Connecticut: Mike Gminski (Monroe, CT)

Pennsylvania: Gene Banks

[billybreen]

What about former Duke walk-on great Mark Causey? He was a Georgia native.

[billybreen]

Also, is there any upcoming talent in Alaska? We own that area.

[Bob Green]

Pennsylvania: Gene Banks

Coach K did not recruit Gene Banks.

[Ben63]

Pennsylvania- Lee Melchionni.

[Jarhead]

Sorry, but the G-man and Tinkerbell were before K. Banks and Kenny Dennard did play their senior season for K.

This is my 500th post. I must have really slowed down.

[devildeac]

Sorry, but the G-man and Tinkerbell were before K. Banks and Kenny Dennard did play their senior season for K.

This is my 500th post. I must have really slowed down.

Did you notice your new status with #500? Congratulations!

[Jarhead]

Thanks. I'm so proud.

[Lavabe]

Kentucky: Vince Taylor (Lexington, KY), Andre Buckner (Hopkinsville, KY)

Massachussets: Matt Christensen (Belmont, MA), Joe Pagliuca (Weston, MA)

Connecticut: Mike Gminski (Monroe, CT)

Pennsylvania: Gene Banks

Coach K did not recruit Vince Taylor.

ALSO, in the original post, the state is spelled ARKANSAS.

Cheers,
Lavabe

[Verga3]

Not in the 50 states, but Canada's Dan Meagher and Greg Newton. Also, Tom Emma (NY), Greg Koubek (NY), Chip Engelland (CA), Billy McCaffrey (PA), Doug McNeely (TX), and Jim Suddath (GA).

[wumhenry]

Pennsylvania- Lee Melchionni.

and Jack Marin

[dkbaseball]

Marty Clark, Joe Cook -- Illinois

Kenny Blakeney, Christian Ast -- Maryland (I'm not sure about Clay Buckley; I know his brother went to Blandensburg High in Md., as did Brian Davis)

Ricky Price -- California

Mike Chappel -- Michigan

Filling in Va. -- Palmer, Beard, King

[tommy]

Casey Sanders was from Tampa, Florida I believe

He was. Good one.

[tommy]

How could you forget the great state of Arkansas, home to Patrick and Jordan Davidson! Do they count since both are walk-ons?

I'd say no. My original post indicated I was talking about players recruited by K to Duke.

[tommy]

Tony Lang is from Mobile, Alabama, and Casey Sanders is from Tampa, Florida. (In fact, my daughter and a couple of her friends ran into Casey at MacDinton's Irish Pub here in Tampa last Friday night before Gasparilla Day.)

How could I forget Tony? Good one.

[tommy]

Coach K did not recruit Gene Banks.

or Vince Taylor or Mike Gminski.

[tommy]

Marty Clark, Joe Cook -- Illinois

Kenny Blakeney, Christian Ast -- Maryland (I'm not sure about Clay Buckley; I know his brother went to Blandensburg High in Md., as did Brian Davis)

Ricky Price -- California

Mike Chappel -- Michigan

Filling in Va. -- Palmer, Beard, King

I don't even remember Ast or Cook. The other ones I definitely should've had. I actually thought about Beard, but then thought he was from Vermont or New Hampshire, but then thought again that was maybe where he ended up, so didn't put him anywhere.

[tommy]

OK adding the above contributions, here's the updated list. Up to 32 states covered now:

Alabama: Lang
Alaska: Langdon, Boozer
Arizona: Alarie
Arkansas:
California: Bilas, Parks, Meek, Burgess, Nelson, Boykin, T King, R Price
Colorado: Jay Bryan (can't believe I remembered him)
Connecticut: McClure
Delaware: Boateng
D.C.: Dawkins
Florida: Sanders
Georgia: Avery
Hawaii:
Idaho:
Illinois: Weldon Williams, Collins, Phil Henderson, Maggette, Scheyer, Clark
Indiana: McRoberts
Iowa:
Kansas:
Kentucky: Andre Buckner
Louisiana: Duhon
Maine:
Maryland: J Smith, Ferry, Wojo, Nate James, Brian Davis, Nolan, Blakeney
Massachusetts: Christensen
Michigan: Battier, Chappell
Minnesota: Todd Anderson, Horvath
Mississippi:
Missouri: C-Well
Montana:
Nebraska: Jackman
Nevada: Czyz
New Hampshire:
New Jersey: Alaa, Hurley, J Williams, Lance Thomas, Zoubek
New Mexico: Domzalski
New York: Laettner, Brand, Paulus, Koubek
North Carolina: too many to name, including D Henderson, Shav, Brickey
North Dakota:
Ohio: Nessley
Oklahoma: Shelden Williams
Oregon: Dunleavy, Singler
Pennsylvania: Gerald Henderson, McCaffrey
Rhode Island:
South Carolina:
South Dakota:
Tennessee: Elliot Williams
Texas: Thomas Hill, Ewing
Utah:
Vermont:
Virginia: many, including Grant Hill, Amaker, JJ, Palmer, Beard, King
Washington: Snyder
West Virginia:
Wisconsin:
Wyoming:

[dkbaseball]

I don't even remember Ast or Cook. The other ones I definitely should've had. I actually thought about Beard, but then thought he was from Vermont or New Hampshire, but then thought again that was maybe where he ended up, so didn't put him anywhere.

Ast and Cook both transferred, Ast with two NCAA championship rings. Beard went to the same high school in NoVa as Grant Hill (they were teammates one year) and transferred to Boston Univ. You forgot Wallace from Delaware. Anybody remember where Kevin Strickland was from?

[Jim3k]

and Jack Marin

Jack played for Bubas, long before Coach K, which was the original point of the thread

[Jim3k]

Ast and Cook both transferred, Ast with two NCAA championship rings. Beard went to the same high school in NoVa as Grant Hill (they were teammates one year) and transferred to Boston Univ. You forgot Wallace from Delaware. Anybody remember where Kevin Strickland was from?

Didn't Ast go back to Germany? I think he later e-bayed at least one of his rings.

[dkbaseball]

Didn't Ast go back to Germany? I think he later e-bayed at least one of his rings.

He played two years at American Univ. May have gone back to Germany after that. Clay Buckley I'm thinking went to high school in Pa.

[dkbaseball]

Tony Moore -- Maryland

[speedevil]

what state is pocius from?

[SeattleIrish]

Quin was/is from Mercer Island, WA.

Yuppie capital of the world.

s.i.

[heyman25]

Pocius Vilnius Lithuania via New Hampshire

[johnb]

now, who's up for ranking the states in order of their contribution to duke basketball?

[weezie]

Great thread. Shows the true dedication of Duke fans!

I'd have to say that Illinois has contributed the most to Duke hoops with it's native son, Krzyzewski.

[Madrasdukie]

Coach K did not recruit Gene Banks.

Tommy said:
or Vince Taylor or Mike Gminski.

My bad. I was just thinking of Duke players in general, pre- and post- K era.

[Madrasdukie]

Delaware: Carmen Wallace (Wilmongton, DE)

New Hampshire: Jay Heaps ?

Georgia: Patrick Johnson (Atlanta, GA)

[FreezingDevil]

Where did Luol Deng play his high school ball? If my memory is correct, it was New Jersey, by way of London by way of Sudan of course. That gets me thinking: how many international players have played for Coach K over the years?

[dkbaseball]

Where did Luol Deng play his high school ball? If my memory is correct, it was New Jersey, by way of London by way of Sudan of course. That gets me thinking: how many international players have played for Coach K over the years?

Blair Academy in N.J. I believe K's only international players have been Deng, Ast, Pocius, Boateng and Czyz next year.

[Madrasdukie]

Nebraska: Bill Jackman ?

Minnesota: Todd Anderson

Missouri: Ron Burt

Florida: Jeremy Hall

Vermont: Justin and Ryan Caldbeck ?

Indiana: Andy Means ?

[devildeac]

what state is pocius from?

Marty is from Lithuania, but, IIRC, played HS BB in New Hampshire.

[mgtr]

You guys must have either phenomenal memories, or a huge stack of old Duke student books!

[MChambers]

Greg Newton, Danny Meaghar (sp?).

[dkbaseball]

You guys must have either phenomenal memories, or a huge stack of old Duke student books!

Family members regard my memory as freakish and evidence of a trivial mind. But hey, I'm their go-to guy if they want to know where they were or what they were doing in, say, 1962.

I had a strange encounter with a Tarhole that really brought to my attention the memory deficits some people are operating with. The gentleman shall remain nameless, but he was an all-ACC football player for UNC, and is currently the AD at a Div. One school. A few years ago, I dropped him an email commending him for a baseball hire he had made, noting also that we had attended junior high together and that I had lived down the street from his best buddy. He didn't remember the guy, or anything else about junior high, except that a shop teacher had told him he'd never amount to anything. He and this guy were in the same class and were inseparable pals in 8th grade, and he didn't remember him at all. Blew my mind.

The email exchange continued for a couple of rounds, descending into Duke-UNC badinage. He made the observation that it seemed as if Duke grads inevitably ended up working for UNC alums, and I replied that the occasions were surely rare and undoubtedly occurred only when the UNC person needed help with some unusually challenging task of memory, such as the names of his children or what year it was. And that's where the exchange ended.

[Spencer's Daddy]

1986-87 walk-on Jon Goodman was from Idaho. And his (twin?) sister was a cheerleader!

[Sandman]

How soon we forget --- Sean Dockery, Illinois