Monthly Archives: July 2011

Former two-time All-American Duke football star Art Gregory passes away

Art Gregory, a star Duke football lineman from 1960-62,  passed away on Sunday morning in his Aiken, S.C., home at the age of 71.

Gregory amassed numerous accolades during his extraordinary career for the Blue Devils, most garnering third team All-America honors in 1961 and a second team selection the following year. Twice he was presented with the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, given to the best blocker in the ACC. He was also honored as first team all-ACC in 1961 and 1962.

“Art’s honors and awards are well documented and truly deserved,” Dick Havens, one of Gregory’s former Duke teammates on the offensive line, told GoDuke.com. “He is a humble person and prefers to give credit to his family, coaches and teammates.  All of the recognition he received, he was grateful. His determination and desire was infectious. He was quiet in the huddle but this ability to play the game was clearly demonstrated on the line of scrimmage. But when he did speak, it was to the point and we listened.”

The Blue Devils accumulated a record of 22-8 with Gregory on the offensive line, winning three consecutive ACC titles and ending each season ranked in the top-15 nationally. Gregory was a member of the 1961 Cotton Bowl-winning squad—the last Duke football team to win a bowl game.

“Art was one of the best players and friend that a player and person could have,” Mark Leggett, a running back on the 1961 team, told GoDuke.com. “His contribution to Duke football was significant and there will be few linemen to match his record.”

Gregory went on to become the executive director of the Coca Cola Bottlers Association of America. He was inducted into the Duke Hall of Fame in 1989.

 

Willliams, USA advance to final with win over Brazil

The United States advanced to the FIBA U19 World Championship final with an 82-66 win over Brazil on Saturday night.

The Americans were led by Bria Hartley, a rising sophomore at Connecticut, who scored 20 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Duke incoming freshman Elizabeth Williams added nine points and four rebounds in 17 minutes of play.

After needing a late comeback to overtake France in the quarterfinals, the three-time defending FIBA U19 champions never trailed against Brazil after taking a 20-15 lead in the first quarter behind a dominant presence on the boards. For the game, the Americans amassed 57 rebounds while holding the Brazilians to just 33. Throughout the tournament the United States has averaged 51.4 rebounds per game compared to 33.2 for their opponents.

The Americans will face Spain in the gold medal game tonight at 6:45 p.m. EST. The Spanish defeated Australia in the other semifinal, 55-49. After finishing fourth in Group F, Spain recorded the largest upset of the tournament’s knockout stages by beating previously-undefeated Canada in the quarterfinals. The team is led by Astou Ndour, who averages almost a double-double per game, 12.4 points and 9.5 rebounds.

Australia will take on Brazil in the bronze medal game at 4:30 p.m. EST.

 

Coach K may have committed NCAA violation in offer to Poythress: UPDATE

UPDATE (3:38 p.m.): ESPN’s Andy Katz is reporting that a source has told him that Duke is currently appealing to the NCAA for an interpretation of the rules regarding contacting recruits on the road.

Katz’s source says that Poythress called Krzyzewski on Tuesday night after his AAU team, the Georgia Stars, had been eliminated from the AAU Super Showcase in Orlando, Fla. The Stars began play in the AAU Nationals on Wednesday at the same site.

Duke is trying to determine whether calls to a recruit between tournaments are permissible, or if contact is banned for the entire duration of a recruit’s travel.

 

Duke is currently looking into the possibility that head coach Mike Krzyzewski committed an NCAA recruiting violation in offering a scholarship to Alex Poythress earlier this week.

In an interview with CBSSports.com, Poythress said that Krzyzewski had made the offer while the former was playing in an AAU tournament.

Poythress told The Chronicle earlier this week that he had been offered a scholarship by the Blue Devils after being recruited primarily by assistant coach Jeff Capel. The interview took place during play at the AAU Nationals.

NCAA guidelines prevent coaches from contacting recruits while they are playing in tournaments.

“Proper adherence to NCAA bylaws has always been, and will continue to be, a cornerstone of Duke Athletics,” Jon Jackson, associate athletics director for university and public affairs, said in a statement.

Williams quiet in quarterfinal win over France

The United States overcame a fourth quarter deficit to rally past France on Friday in the quarterfinals of the FIBA U19 World Championship, winning 70-64.

Entering the final period down by two points, the United States went on a 15-2 run to regain the lead and put the game out of reach.

Breanna Stewart, the top-ranked member of ESPN Hoopgurlz Class of 2012, and a Connecticut commit, led the Americans with 21 points and 13 rebounds. In a starting role, incoming freshman Elizabeth Williams scored four points and grabbed three boards in 21 minutes of play.

Throughout the tournament, Williams has averaged 8.0 points and 5.6 rebounds in 19.6 minutes per game.

The United States will take on Brazil tonight at 9 p.m. EST in the World Championship semifinals. In their quarterfinal, the Brazilians snuck by Russia 73-71. In group play, the Americans took down Russia 76-53 behind Williams’ 11 points and ten rebounds, the game’s only double-double.

Duke offers scholarship to Alex Poythress

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski has extended a scholarship offer to Alex Poythress, ESPN.com’s 17th-ranked recruit in the Class of 2012.

Poythress, a native of Clarksville, Tenn., confirmed to The Chronicle that he had received an offer from the Blue Devils.

“It’s very exciting,” Poythress said. “Coach [Jeff] Capel has been recruiting me.”

The 6-foot-8 small forward averaged 22.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.1 blocks, 1.4 steals and 1.2 assists per game for Northeast High School (Tenn.) last season as a junior.

Poythress also said he was far from making his decision, though, adding that his recruitment was still “wide open.” He is considering Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Louisville, Memphis, Purdue, Texas and Vanderbilt, among others, though he has said he plans to cut that list down to five schools by the end of the summer.

 

 

Harper, Other Former Blue Devils Head to NFL Camps

Former Blue Devil Brandon Harper was one of many undrafted free agents to find a home in the NFL Tuesday amidst the league’s post-lockout chaos.

Harper, who started eight games at left guard for Duke in 2010, signed a contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars and flew down to Jacksonville to prepare for the beginning of camp today.

Other former Blue Devils, including Patrick Bailey, Thaddeus Lewis, Vincent Rey and Eron Riley also are on NFL training camp rosters.