Duke basketball alum granted one of highest honors in sports

A Duke basketball alum was granted one of the highest honors in the sport. 

There has always been a Duke basketball presence around the USA Basketball program, and that will not be going away anytime soon.

Former Blue Devil Grant Hill has been named as the next managing director for the United States of America’s Men’s National Team.

Hill will replace current managing director Jerry Colangelo after the Tokyo Olympics, which will be held in the summer of 2021 after the coronavirus pandemic forced the one-year postponement of the games.

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Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski recently stepped down from his head coaching position with the men’s national team after holding the honor from 2005-2016 when he was replaced by San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Popovich.

In its first event without Krzyzewski, Team USA finished seventh in the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

Grant Hill helped the United States win an Olympic gold medal in the 1996 games and would have been a member of the 2000 Olympic team if not for an injury.

Hill was also among the college players in the famous scrimmage where the 1992 Dream Team was defeated, 62-54.

Duke basketball alum has illustrious basketball pedigree

Grant Hill was a two-time NCAA Champion with the Blue Devils in 1991 and 1992. He averaged 14.9 points per game across his four seasons in Durham and won ACC Player of the Year in 1994.

After being the No. 3 overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft, injuries hampered the trajectory of Grant Hill, but he was still a seven-time All-Star and the Co-Rookie of the Year in 1995.

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Hill is now a co-owner of the Atlanta Hawks and works in broadcasting for CBS and NBA TV.

Following the Tokyo Olympics, the next event USA Basketball could participate in is the 2023 FIBA World Cup, in which Grant Hill would have the opportunity to showcase his abilities to put together a gold medal caliber squad.