When Mike Krzyzewski announced his plans to retire in 2021, many who were unfamiliar with Jon Scheyer believed Duke would take a step back from its status as a national powerhouse. But Scheyer quickly put that wishful thinking to bed.
Since Scheyer took over for the greatest college basketball coach of all time, the Blue Devils haven't missed a step. After a Round of 32 exit in his first year, Scheyer has led Duke to three straight Elite Eight appearances. And with the roster he's built this season, the Blue Devils are looking to make it four in a row and have a legitimate shot at the national championship once again.
Of course, Duke has ended each of its past two seasons in heartbreaking losses, but getting to that point in the first place is a testament to Scheyer's ability to build rosters and recruit at an elite level. While it may be a bit early to compare his recruiting resume to Coach K's, the two have had very different landscapes to navigate.
One of the biggest challenges Krzyzewski faced was the possibility of losing elite high school recruits to the NBA Draft. Although that was eventually changed, it created some of the biggest what-ifs in Duke's recruiting history, with three names standing out.
3 stars who took their talents to the NBA Draft instead of Duke
3. LeBron James
This one is admittedly a bit of a stretch. James' college recruitment was never really a possibility. As one of the most hyped prospects of all time, it was a foregone conclusion that he would skip college and head straight to the NBA Draft out of high school as the clear No.1 overall pick. And while he never seriously considered Duke, an interesting tweet from James in 2024 offered a glimpse into what could have been.
Just woke up from having a dream I was playing for Duke for Coach K inside Cameron Indoor Stadium! It was INSANE in there. Told Coach K it was an honor to suit up for him and he said the same thing back to me. He’s such a LEGEND! Then…..
— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 10, 2024
James has been on record saying he would have considered other schools had he gone to college, but it's hard to believe he wouldn't have at least listened to what Krzyzewski and Duke had to offer. Had the Blue Devils been able to get him to Durham, James would have joined the 2003-04 team, potentially changing one of the biggest heartbreaks in program history.
2. Shaun Livingston
While Livingston's NBA career certainly didn't pan out like the other two on this list, he was an elite recruit in his own right. He was one of the best prospects in his class, with loads of potential thanks in large part to his size for a point guard. Unfortunately, Livingston decided to enter the 2004 NBA Draft after previously committing to play at Duke.
James was never a realistic possibility to play alongside J.J. Redick, but Livingston was right there. Had he decided to play college basketball, he would have joined Duke's 2004-05 team, which desperately needed a playmaker. That team fell short against Michigan State in the Elite Eight, but if there's an alternate reality where Livingston and Redick shared the court at Duke, I'd pay to see how that season would have ended up.
1. Kobe Bryant
Bryant may be the most intriguing on this list. At one point, Bryant stated he would have gone to Duke's biggest rival, North Carolina, had he played college basketball. But in 2017, he seemingly changed his mind, saying he would have chosen Duke instead. So, after initially picking the wrong side of the rivalry, Bryant eventually came to his senses.
Being able to call Bryant a Blue Devil would have been a dream, but we can settle for it being honorary. Had Bryant decided to join Duke instead of entering the NBA Draft, he would have joined the 1996-97 team. Adding him to that roster would have raised its ceiling exponentially, and it's hard not to wonder how far that team could have gone with Bryant in Durham.
Add us as a preferred source on Google