Duke Blue Devils: Duke Athletics Hall of Fame inducted Class of 2018

On Friday night, Duke University honored eight former Duke Blue Devils with their inductions into the Duke Athletics Hall of Fame.

Ah, the memories. With eight more former Duke Blue Devils in the Duke Athletics Hall of Fame as of Friday night — the most of any year since the inaugural ceremony in 1975 — it’s time to take a scenic stroll down memory lane.

Former Duke basketball player Elton Brand, who ended up being the No. 1 pick in the 1999 NBA Draft, was a part of 69 wins and only six losses during his two-year stay in Durham. The forward/center — arguably the greatest raw talent the Blue Devils have ever had in a big man — averaged 16.2 points and 8.9 rebounds in his collegiate career while garnering recognition as player of the year in the ACC and the nation during his sophomore campaign.

Another former Duke basketball big man, Shelden Williams, stayed in college four years and left in 2006 as the school’s all-time leader in rebounds (1,262) and blocks (422). Williams became the first player in the history of the NCAA to accumulate more than 1,750 points, 1,250 rebounds, 400 blocks, and 150 steals for his career. The two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year, who was drafted fifth in the 2006 NBA Draft, had a 116-23 record during his time at Duke.

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Randy Jones, a two-sport star for the Duke Blue Devils, shined for the football team as a speedy running back and return specialist, amassing 2,835 all-purpose yards for his career and helping the Blue Devils finish first in the ACC in 1989. After also being an accomplished sprinter the Duke track and field program, he went on to represent the United States in four consecutive Olympics as a member of the four-man bobsled team.

As for the man who called the games of Brand, Williams, and Jones on the radio, Bob Harris stayed on his job as Voice of the Blue Devils for 41 years, marking the longest tenure of any ACC play-by-play announcer in history. He was selected as North Carolina Sportscaster of the Year four times (1988, 1991, 2011, and 2017).

Switching to the baseball diamond, Ryan Jackson was named the best player in the country in 1994 after finishing his time at Duke with a .322 batting average, 277 hits, 182 runs scored, 42 home runs, 56 doubles, and 183 runs batted in. The outfielder, who was a part of three 30-win seasons in Durham, went on to play four seasons in the Major League as a member of the Florida Marlins, Seattle Mariners, and Detroit Tigers.

Lindsey Harding, the all-time leader in assists (579) for the women’s basketball program at Duke, graduated in 2007 after being a part of 128 wins and just 12 losses. After appearing in two Final Fours, helping the Blue Devils win two ACC Tournaments and three regular season titles, and earning the honor as ACC Player of the Year as a senior, Harding was the No. 1 pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft and went on to play nine seasons in the league.

Shifting now to the links, Candy Hannemann led the Blue Devils to four ACC titles and two NCAA Championships (1999 and 2002). As a junior, Hannemann won the Honda Award, given to the nation’s best golfer, after she also won the individual title at the NCAA Championship. She went on to a successful eight-year stint in the LPGA, including six top-10 finishes.

Katie Chrest Erbe is now the lone representative from Duke’s women’s lacrosse program in the school’s Hall of Fame. She was awarded the Tewaaraton Trophy, the honor given each year to the best player in the country, as a junior in 2005. She finished her time in Durham with two appearances in the Final Four and as the school’s all-time leader in goals (216) and points (287). The Blue Devils had a combined 61-18 record during her four years.