Kyrie Irving to Enter NBA Draft
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- Posted on: Wed, 04/06/2011 - 11:09am #27743
Johnny KilroyParticipanthttp://www.goduke.com//ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=205131514
Courtesy: Lance King
http://www.LanceImages.com
Kyrie IrvingDURHAM, N.C. – Duke freshman guard Kyrie Irving will enter the 2011 NBA Draft with plans to hire an agent, head coach Mike Krzyzewski announced Wednesday. The 2011 NBA Draft will be held on June 23 in New York City and Irving is expected to be among the top picks in the draft.
“Our whole program is overjoyed with having Kyrie here for one year and that he has the chance now to pursue a dream of being a high draft pick and a great player in the NBA,” said Krzyzewski. “We are totally supportive of Kyrie, his family and his decision. We look forward to continuing to work with him during the upcoming months leading to his entry into the NBA and afterwards while he is an NBA player. He is a great young man, a terrific student, and a truly amazing representative for our program and for Duke. We love him and are very happy for him and his family.”
Irving, a 6-2 guard from West Orange, N.J., played in just 11 games this season, sitting out 26 contests with a toe injury on his right foot. He averaged 17.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting .529 (55-of-104) from the field, .462 (18-of-39) from behind the three-point line and .901 (64-of-71) from the free throw line. Irving started the first eight games of the year, averaging 17.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game during that time frame. He returned to action in the NCAA Tournament and averaged 17.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in Duke’s three outings.
“I want to thank the entire staff at Duke, especially the coaches,” said Irving. “It was a great experience playing for Coach K. He taught me a lot about the game. Even when I was hurt, I learned a lot. Also a special thanks goes to the medical staff for getting me back on the court for the NCAA Tournament and my teammates for sticking with me throughout the entire year. Duke offered me an experience I could never have imagined.”
He scored a game-high 31 points to go with six rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals against No. 6 Michigan State in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. It was just the fourth time in school history a freshman scored 30 or more in a game. He was selected the CBE Classic MVP after averaging 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.5 steals in the four games. He had 17 points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals in the finals against No. 4 Kansas State. Irving also dished out nine assists against both Princeton and Colgate. In the NCAA Tournament, he scored team highs of 14 points against Hampton and 28 points against Arizona in the Sweet 16.
“This was a special year for me. I love everything about Duke and I’m going to miss it,” added Irving. ”Duke has a special place in my heart. Even though I’m leaving this year, Duke will always be in my mind and my heart. I’m going to miss putting on that No. 1 jersey.”
0 - Posted on: Wed, 04/06/2011 - 11:53am #518763
mikeyvthedonParticipantHe is a likely top 3 pick. No point in going back and risking another injury. In my opinion, the first pick would be either Irving or Harrison Barnes, though I having a feeling Barnes goes back. Irving would be the more ready of the two anyway, and while he did not have much of a chance to play, you saw the flashes of him being a potential top PG. Derrick Williams and Enes Kanter may have a chance at #1, really depends on who gets the pick, but as an almost assured top 3 pick, Kyrie made the right choice declaring for this draft.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 04/06/2011 - 11:58am #518765
Ghost01ParticipantGood move.
Can anyone tell Barnes and Sullinger that there draft stock is going to implode if they stay? Like do they not see how weak this draft is? Next year is STACKED.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 04/06/2011 - 12:01pm #518766
speedevildamn toe injury!!! i feel cheated.
Duke hasnt had such a dymanic player since Jason Williams, and Duke was able to get 3 years out of Williams. It would be a steal of Coach K was able to get 2 years out of Kyrie but he had to go pro.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 04/06/2011 - 12:06pm #518769
KayjayParticipantDon’t know how I feel about this one. On one hand he’s proved that he has nothing ‘left’ to prove. And on the other hand him staying would of allowed him to play with Austin Rivers. Either way, good for Kyrie. I know for a fact that he’ll mos def be a top 3 pick.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 04/06/2011 - 12:07pm #518770
KayjayParticipantLol bro, you’re still getting Austin Rivers no?
0- Posted on: Wed, 04/06/2011 - 12:16pm #518778
speedevilbut I am a greedy Duke fan. Irving & Rivers starting backcourt w/ Curry, Dawkins, and Quinn Cook off the bench.
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- Posted on: Wed, 04/06/2011 - 12:44pm #518794
M.GarveyParticipantI hope, for his sake, he doesnt end up in Sacramento
0 - Posted on: Wed, 04/06/2011 - 12:48pm #518795
andxxxParticipantTop 3 pick wish Barnes and Sullinger could come out for this draft. I don’t blame Barnes for staying but Sullinger will not get any better at Ohio St. he has a mid range game that Ohio St never lets him use and couldn’t do anything to increase his draft stock unless he gets way more athletic and grows a few inches
0 - Posted on: Wed, 04/06/2011 - 1:20pm #518803
natedogggParticipantBarnes i can understand staying another year because we saw in the season how he progressed and another year would benefit him.
but with Sullinger he really should be taking advantage of a weak draft.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 04/06/2011 - 2:37pm #518841
sheltwon3ParticipantI like the fact that both stayed since most players make their biggest jumps from freshmen to Sophmore. Also neither is coming back to a terrible team.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 04/06/2011 - 2:43pm #518848
The Game_GMParticipantHe had to go..Couldn’t risk another injury. He is a special talent. I think the sky is the limit for this kid. If he lands in Minnesota maybe Irving, Beasley and Love can start something decent.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 04/06/2011 - 4:21pm #518878
Tha_PrinceParticipant#1 baby
0 - Posted on: Wed, 04/06/2011 - 6:38pm #518917
The lake show2Sullinger and Barnes are top 5 whether they come out this year next year or the year after. There’s no big next year coming in that is close to Sulliner skill wise on the post. I see alot of hype coming to college next season, lets see which live up to it and which fall( and every year a couple do fall/or show to be overrated that’s a fact)
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