The seventh annual K Academy is set for June 3rd to June 7th in Cameron and many of our program’s all-time greats will return to campus.  Participants age 35 and up are coached by former Duke players and an exciting social program and auction benefiting the Emily K Center add to the program.  This year’s Academy includes 66 attendees who will be coached by 29 former Duke players.  Blue Devils scheduled to appear include jersey retirees Grant Hill, Bobby Hurley, Mike Gminski, Christian Laettner and Jason Williams along with Mark Alarie, Chris Duhon, Jay Bilas, Gene Banks, Chris Carrawell, Alaa Abdelnaby, Kenny Blakeney, Robert Brickey, Marty Clark, Chris Collins, Kenny Dennard, Sean Dockery, Chip Engelland, David Henderson, Thomas Hill, Nate James, Billy King, Tony Lang, Marty Pocius, Quin Snyder, Ricky Price, Vince Taylor and Steve Wojciechowski.  Proceeds from the event benefit the Duke Basketball program.

Each attendee enjoys a complete Duke Basketball experience.  After evaluation games and a draft on the opening day, teams play five games in Cameron over three days before the single-elimination K Academy championship tournament on Sunday.  Teams will also have practices, locker room meetings, lectures and a team meal just like Coach K’s Duke teams.  In addition, tents are set up to recognize campers, four-year players get their own “senior video” with footage from their previous K Academy games and the event has its own media guide with every stat compiled over the previous six years.  Draft night includes video footage of every returning camper complete with analysis from our own Jay Bilas.  Stay tuned for photos and reports from the event next week.

Duke Basketball alum Reggie Love was filmed helping President Obama order lunch.  Reggie, the President’s Personal Aide, moves in at the 24 second-mark of the video as President Obama places a large order of burgers and fries at “Five Guys.”

Seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill, a two-time NCAA champ and 1994 Duke grad, stopped by our office yesterday.  The 3rd pick of the 1994 NBA Draft stopped by our offices to catch up with our staff before heading to the K Center for a workout.  Grant was in town making a presentation on campus with Coach K.  Here are a few pictures from his visit.  Grant just wrapped up a great season with the Phoenix Suns where he averaged 12 points and 5 boards, playing in all 82 games.  He plans to return next week for the annual K Academy.

A quick photo tour of our locker room renovations from last summer…

Coach K is one of eight individuals who have been elected for induction into the Army Sports Hall of Fame this Year.  A 1969 graduate, Coach K was the team captain his senior season and led the team to a pair of NIT trips.  He took over as head coach in 1975 and posted a 73-59 record during his five-year tenure, including a trip to the NIT in 1978.  “This is the ultimate honor for anyone who played on any West Point team,” said Coach K.  “To be in the Army Sports Hall of Fame puts you with some of the greatest people who have played their sport.  It is a great honor.  I have always said that so much of what I do on a day-to-day basis is a result of my experiences as a cadet, an officer and as a coach at Army.”