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Recruits bypass UNC, Duke

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North Carolina and Duke basketball fans are not used to their favorites being told "no" by recruits, but it happened a couple of times last week. Greg Monroe, a 6-foot-10 center at Harvey (La.) Cox, and the top-ranked player in the class of 2008, chose Georgetown over Duke. On Thursday, Iman Shumpert, a 6-4 shooting guard in Oak Park, Ill., chose Georgia Tech over Marquette and UNC. UNC is awaiting the decision of 6-11 Tyler Zeller of Washington, Ind., and Duke is still recruiting 6-4 Elliott Williams of Collierville (Tenn.) St. George. Beyond that, Duke and Carolina don't seem to have a lot of targets left.

Raleigh News & Observer

Mike Krzyzewski, Rick Stewart/Getty Images Mike Krzyzewski, Rick Stewart/Getty Images
October 22, 2007  07:50 AM ET

There HAS to be something else in the deal if some guy is choosing Georgia Tech over UNC.

October 22, 2007  08:09 AM ET

Someone wrote a check

October 22, 2007  09:24 AM ET

It makes sense to me. Recruits want to go where they can make it to the next level. Duke hasn't really developed an NBA player in some time.

Luol Deng is the last Duke player I can think of that was highly drafted.

October 22, 2007  10:12 AM ET

same thing is going on in college football.

October 22, 2007  10:50 AM ET

Elton Brand, Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, Shane Battier, Shelden WIlliams, Chris Duhon, and on and on. J HOVA get a grip Duke pumps out NBA talent like its going outta style. Your a "hater" admit it.

October 22, 2007  10:55 AM ET

I did say recently. But yes I am a Duke hater.

October 22, 2007  11:00 AM ET

Good choice my overactive glandular schoolboy!

October 22, 2007  11:14 AM ET

Who would want to go to UNC or Duke, go to a place where you can be a the big man on campus. UNC and Duke are boring!!

October 22, 2007  11:59 AM ET

robertbruce is rediculous. UNC and Duke are not boring, but his BMOC idea is it. These kids are promised that the ball will be in their hands. Roy and K do not make promises, they tell kids that they will need to earn their time and that they will help them grow in the SCHOOLS system. If the kids want to be better ball players, then they will play for a legendary coach. If they want NBA attention and 20 shots a night, they go to places like Kansas State and USC.

October 22, 2007  12:17 PM ET

i seen more top recruits going to big east powers such as uconn pitt marquette ville and villanova over acc schools like duke unc and boston college

October 22, 2007  12:29 PM ET

UNC is a great school to be a Basketball player, they literally **** backwards for those dudes. I couldn't imagine why you would turn down Carolina...Duke I can understand, Coach K is retarded...no I do not say that just because I went to UNC! This is an interesting story, I guess there is a lot of stand out talent at UNC so you couldn't get 100% shine time....some people want to make the team and be the big guy, you could never do that at UNC unless you are like that dude! But remember getting a UNC and Duke degree is an impressive tool...better than all those other colleges out there! Retarded not to chose UNC and Duke in the long run! Gotta consider the education institution somewhat...never know how the collegiate career is going to turn out!

October 22, 2007  12:45 PM ET

duke hasn't been recruiting well lately, or at least they have but they haven't landed a lot of their main targets like in years past. i was looking forward to monroe playing for duke, i was almost dependent on it, sigh, so disappointing and such heartbreak, he would've been better then sheldon williams or just as good..

and duke is a much better school than unc, while unc is respectable...duke is prob in or near top 10 in the nation

October 22, 2007  12:45 PM ET

Come to Duke and **** gold

October 22, 2007  01:49 PM ET

dtcstylez, Duke had a very good recruting class the past 2 years. To say they haven't recruited well is just ignorant.

October 22, 2007  01:59 PM ET

Players are tired of being hated for Chosing Duke. I have friends that have played and they getting treated very bad, going to other gyms. Every year Duke is expected to be good. New times, New Schools will dominate! Duke was the 90's teams. N.C was always solid!

October 22, 2007  02:12 PM ET

Recruits are passing over UNC and Duke because they are selfish and want all the attention. Just look at O.J. Mayo, he even said he didn't want to be part of a traditional program but he wanted to make a name for "himself". A team concept is too much to ask. Also at UNC and Duke they would have to actually attend classes. Kids are just trying to get through the first year and on to the NBA.

October 22, 2007  02:50 PM ET

Not everyone is as enamored with UNC & Duke as one would be led to believe. Could be someone wanting to be 'the man' on the team from day one, which won't happen at those schools. Might not have the team atmosphere a kid (or his parents) is looking for. And if it is an ACC school, they could use the old line teams used to recruit with in the midwest with Notre Dame in football: Would you rather play for UNC/Duke, or would you rather BEAT UNC/Duke?

All it takes is 2 - 3 top recruits in a class consistently to remain a top power, and these schools won't be struggling to find them nationally. One blip on the radar year isn't terrible. Even 2 won't cripple a team. If this became an every year discussion for 4 years, then the two powers would need to worry.

October 22, 2007  03:22 PM ET

If I had the choice between North Carolina and Duke, I would choose Carolina. Duke's time is behind them. Coach K cannot develop a superstar player. Someone earlier asked me if I was a Duke hater and rattled off a bunch of names at me. Well based upon those names the only players I will say are solid NBA players are Boozer and Brand. The only great player is Deng. Looking at their current roster there isn't a player worthy of a first round pick.

Go to Duke and be mediocre. Go to Carolina and be solid. Go somewhere else and be the number one pick overall.

October 22, 2007  04:00 PM ET

There has to be some big time players left on the table for the Heels to grab up. They like Duke, are one of the biggest universities to consider in college basketball. They like Duke, go after and normally get the big players. So, I'm not worried. The Heels will get their share of players.

 
October 22, 2007  04:44 PM ET

Go to Duke and become a millionaire and play in the greatest college basketball conference. Hey Nova you are right Duke is the team of the nineties they won the 2001 national championship and six straight acc titles between 2000 and 2006 but you are right they are the team of the nineties. Haters, Duke is THE elite program of college basketball who wouldn't want to come and play against UNC and NCSTATE which are ten minutes from campus. Haters get a grip Duke rocks!!!!

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