The All-Time "Never Suited Up" Team

[wilson]

With Patrick Tapé's recent decommitment, and this pervasive lack of stuff to do, I got to thinking about the all-time roster of Duke commitments who never actually suited up for Duke.

I think a starting 5 of Shaun Livingston & Boogie Ellis in the backcourt, Kris Humphries and Patrick Tapé at the 4 and 5, and maybe, like, Carrick Felix as the swing man could be pretty good, right?

[MChambers]

With Patrick Tapé's recent decommitment, and this pervasive lack of stuff to do, I got to thinking about the all-time roster of Duke commitments who never actually suited up for Duke.

I think a starting 5 of Shaun Livingston & Boogie Ellis in the backcourt, Kris Humphries and Patrick Tapé at the 4 and 5, and maybe, like, Carrick Felix as the swing man could be pretty good, right?

You left off Bill Bradley. I don't think he'd come off the bench with this crew.

[Tripping William]

Where do we draw the line on this? I mean, in many ways the list could plausibly include Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, John Wall, etc. In perhaps fewer ways it could include everybody who played somewhere other than Duke.

[CDu]

Where do we draw the line on this? I mean, in many ways the list could plausibly include Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, John Wall, etc. In perhaps fewer ways it could include everybody who played somewhere other than Duke.

Think it would have to be limited to folks who committed and then decomitted (or went straight to the NBA). None of those guys committed to Duke.

As for the list, hopefully we can find someone better than Ellis for the SG spot .

[BD80]

I think Kobe would qualify, he indicated he would have played for Coach K.

He would probably crack the starting line-up.

[sagegrouse]

Where do we draw the line on this? I mean, in many ways the list could plausibly include Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, John Wall, etc. In perhaps fewer ways it could include everybody who played somewhere other than Duke.

Commitments.

[Bluedog]

You left off Bill Bradley. I don't think he'd come off the bench with this crew.

Think it would have to be limited to folks who committed and then decomitted (or went straight to the NBA). None of those guys committed to Duke.

As for the list, hopefully we can find someone better than Ellis for the SG spot .

Commitments.

Yep, agreed. Kobe et al never committed to Duke. Bradley certainly did, although there weren't LOIs back in those days. But Fred Hetzel was denied a Duke scholarship because Bradley accounted for the last one per Jim Sumner.

Was there anybody else besides Livingston that committed to Duke and then chose to go the NBA? I can't recall any. Only other person I can think of off the top of my head committing to Duke and going elsewhere that hasn't been mentioned above was Tyler Adams. Unfortunately, his career at Georgetown was cut short due to a heart ailment. The decommitments are much more common in football than basketball, it seems (given coaches actively recruit even after commitments).

[UrinalCake]

Only other person I can think of off the top of my head committing to Duke and going elsewhere that hasn't been mentioned above was Tyler Adams.

He might not have come to Duke, but his legacy lives on all these years later as the originator of the cinderblock measurement.

[BD80]

He might not have come to Duke, but his legacy lives on all these years later as the originator of the cinderblock measurement.

Wasn't that his dad? And Tyler was just ...

[DevilYouKnow]

You left off Bill Bradley. I don't think he'd come off the bench with this crew.

This. All day long.

[Edouble]

I think Kobe would qualify, he indicated he would have played for Coach K.

He would probably crack the starting line-up.

https://www.espn.com/blog/collegebas...-unc-over-duke

He also said he would have played at UNC. I know he was also seriously considering Cincinnati, who was pretty much on equal footing as the two Tobacco Road teams during that time for a few years.

[bundabergdevil]

Kris Humphries was an interesting situation. I believe he committed to Duke and then changed his mind shortly after. Later, Kim Kardashian did the same thing to him.

[AZLA]

Kris Humphries was an interesting situation. I believe he committed to Duke and then changed his mind shortly after. Later, Kim Kardashian did the same thing to him.

The Sirens of the NBA... hands down Livingston. If he had come to Duke even for a year it would have been great to watch.

[sagegrouse]

Hey guys and gals! We need a coach! Two candidates -- Adolph Rupp, who backed out of coaching the 1973-1974 team, due apparently to responsibilities at his large farm in Kentucky. And Red Auerbach, assistant coach and heir apparent for a few months in 1949. From Wikipedia on Red:

fter leaving the [Washington] Capitols, Auerbach became assistant coach of the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team. It was assumed that Auerbach would take over for head coach Gerry Gerard, who was battling cancer. During his tenure at Duke, Auerbach regularly worked with future All-American Dick Groat. Auerbach later wrote that he "felt pretty bad waiting for [Gerard] to die" and that it was "no way to get a job".

Auerbach left after a few months for the Tri-Cities team, on his way to the Celtics.

[uh_no]

With Patrick Tapé's recent decommitment, and this pervasive lack of stuff to do, I got to thinking about the all-time roster of Duke commitments who never actually suited up for Duke.

I think a starting 5 of Shaun Livingston & Boogie Ellis in the backcourt, Kris Humphries and Patrick Tapé at the 4 and 5, and maybe, like, Carrick Felix as the swing man could be pretty good, right?

reading this board during his recruitment, many were SURE he was a duke lock...so john wall.

[MartyClark]

The Sirens of the NBA... hands down Livingston. If he had come to Duke even for a year it would have been great to watch.

A healthy Livingston would have been unbelievable. Even if a OAD, it would have made Duke the favorite for a NCAA championship. Plus, it would have been a lot of fun for all of us.

[JasonEvans]

Kris Humphries was an interesting situation. I believe he committed to Duke and then changed his mind shortly after. Later, Kim Kardashian did the same thing to him.

Soon as I saw this thread, I thought of Livingston and Humphries. Kris would have been a stud PF for us.

[Bluedog]

Soon as I saw this thread, I thought of Livingston and Humphries. Kris would have been a stud PF for us.

Yeah and he would have been five more fouls against Okafor after our entire frontcourt fouled out and we had to put in Horvath...no offense to Horvath.

Duke let Kris out of his LOI after his dad reportedly wanted guaranteed playing time for his son...Duke was happy to oblige opening up his recruitment. He was clearly a stud at MN being the Freshman of the Year and had the ball in his hand A LOT in leading his team to a B1G worst 3 conference wins...

[bundabergdevil]

Yeah and he would have been five more fouls against Okafor after our entire frontcourt fouled out and we had to put in Horvath...no offense to Horvath.

Duke let Kris out of his LOI after his dad reportedly wanted guaranteed playing time for his son...Duke was happy to oblige opening up his recruitment. He was clearly a stud at MN being the Freshman of the Year and had the ball in his hand A LOT in leading his team to a B1G worst 3 conference wins...

Yeah, IIRC, Kris and his father had a pretty clear plan in mind to get Kris to the NBA, which they did. More power to them but I got the impression that if he had come to Duke he wouldn't have unpacked his bag, which is what Coach K asks of his one-and-doners.