Duke basketball legend Art Heyman has died at the age of 71, according to the team’s official Twitter account.
Heyman played on the varsity squad at Duke from 1961-1963, earning ACC Player of the Year and National Player of the Year honors in his senior season. He took the Blue Devils to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament that year, losing in the semifinals to the eventual champion Loyola Chicago.
He averaged a double-double in all three of his seasons at Duke, finishing the three years with an average of 25.1 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.
Heyman’s jersey No. 25 is one of 13 men’s basketball jerseys that currently hangs from the rafters at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Heyman was known for his fiery attitude, famously getting in a fight against a North Carolina squad featuring Larry Brown in 1961. Below is a video from the Duke University Libraries of that game in ’61:
With 1,984 career points at Duke, he graduated with the school record. He now ranks ninth on the team’s all-time list.
This story is still being updated.
Tragic, tragic news. Art was my all-time favorite Blue Devil. My thoughts and prayers are with the Heyman family this evening.
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Sad
Deeply sad for the whole duke family. RIP Art.
Art Heyman and Jeff Mullins started my love for Duke when I was 11 years old.
Such sad news….Art Heyman and Jeff Mullins were also my first favorite Duke players . My father was a Duke fan and he had me watching the blue devils at an early age. Art Heyman was the first star Duke player I remember.
Sad news. I feel fortunate to have been at Duke when Art Heyman played.
Art Heyman was the reason I started liking Duke basketball. He was a warrior and disliked the Tar Heels as much or more than I did. If I am choosing sides up in heaven, Art is on my first team. RIP Mr. Heyman, you earned it.
Art Heyman provided me with many happy moments. He was indeed a legend and a character.