Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
When you think of Duke basketball, you think of success, national championships, all-star athletes, etc. When the players and adult fans think of Duke basketball they think of the same things, except there’s one more thing: coach Mike Krzyzewski’s “K Academy”.
The “K Academy” is a basketball fantasy camp where participants 35-years or older can enjoy five days on Duke’s campus, playing basketball games in Cameron Indoor, and learning the “inside scoop” on Duke’s basketball program. At the end of the “K Academy” experience there is a charity auction with proceeds going toward Durham’s Emily Krzyzewski Center. Over the five days, participants stay at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Course, a four-star hotel on campus. This luxurious experience for the super fan comes at a pretty penny. Tuition is $10,000.
Is it worth it? Five days of basketball heaven for a Duke fan for $10,000. Well, one intriguing thing is that players who have moved on come back for the experience.
“The best part about it is seeing players you haven’t seen in a while,” said Kyle Singler, former Duke forward, “kind of reconnecting relationships and friendships.”
It’s not just Singler coming back either. It’s a long list of Duke alumni. To name a few: Jay Williams, Jay Bilas, Brian Zoubek, Mark Alarie, Austin Rivers, Gene Banks and Kenny Dennard have all stood next to Krzyzewski and coached at the “K Academy”,
“Each and every year I become extremely excited at the opportunity to coach at the Coach K fantasy camp,” said Williams in a testimonial. “It is a span of days filled with great laughs and a ton of intensity on the court. The best part of the Academy is spending time with my Duke family. A family that continues to grow every year as new campers come in.”
Five days of basketball at Cameron Indoor with the greatest that Duke has produced? Sounds like a dream come true. The hefty price tag though? Anything for a chance to be coached by your idol, right?
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