Blue Devil Nation :: Duke Basketball

Once gain the Coach K Academy raised a substantial amount of money for charitable causes. The event took place this past week and was deemed a glowing success.

Some actually scoff at the notion that campers will pay $10,000 to attend the Coach K Academy, a fantasy camp which provides the ultimate Duke Basketball experience. What they fail to realize is that the money goes to the Emily K Center. In short the proceeds go back into the local community and it takes little research to see the tremendous benefits reaped during a special week.

Ask any attendee and they will be quick to tell you that they had a wonderful time and built relationships and learned lessons that will last a lifetime. Many of them have already made their mark on our culture. On one team is the head of ITunes. His opponent on a given day could be the gentleman who designed the new state of the art Duke Basketball Practice Facility adjacent to Cameron.

Do you think the attendees are pampered? Well, they are certainly treated with respect and are given full access to the Duke Family. However, when they hit the court it's all business. There you will see coaches like Chris Collins or Steve Wojciechowski get in their grills after a mistake. The reason? This camp is very realistic and the players are treated just as our scholarship players are in real life when the buzzer sounds for tip off.

You will often hear the aforementioned word, relationships in regards to Duke Basketball. It's an important component of K's philosophy and it's served Duke well. For some campers, relationships are built quickly in that it might be there first year. Others have attended multiple times, some actually having their names retired and hanging in Cameron during the event. Relationships are a Duke cornerstone and the players are taught to work as a cohesive unit both on and off the hardwood.

Another keyword when talking Duke Basketball is family. Each attendee is made to feel a part of that just as our players are. You will often see our alumni return, be it for a workout in the new practice facility or to rehab an injury. K always leaves the door open for ex players and I feel certain that he stays in touch with a lot of these men throughout the year.

A quick trip into Cameron Indoor Stadium during one of these games will attest even more to family. Every single member of the Duke Staff is committed to the experience, be it coaches, managers, SID workers, medical staff members and those in charge of the unique Legacy Fund . The mention of the Legacy Fund allows me the opportunity to bring up K's real family. His daughter works with Mike Cragg in this department and she shares in the duties of making all campers comfortable. It doesn't stop there! In the bleachers, flanking his eldest daughter Debbie will be her sisters, their husbands and a bushel of kids, some adoringly hanging off K's arm as he sits with his wife Mickie. In short, all of them are completely on the same page which is more a testament to love than the military precision of K's behemoth Duke Basketball machine.

Yep, these men get an experience that most call a bargain and others call a dream. On day one they play for all the coaches in order to be evaluated for an NBA style draft with no expense spared. The same trainers Duke has will attend to the ills from spills. Participants walk by a tent city and their sneakers create the same squeaks on Coach K Court as has any past player you can name in recent memory.

The lessons they learn help them in their businesses or perhaps their personal lives. The experience is both ways in that the former players take home lessons from campers and fellow alumni alike. There are lots of hugs and exchanges of pleasantries.

I was simply a fly on the wall at the event, but I came away having gained knowledge and perspective. Duke Basketball and Coach K ( Team USA Coach) reached participants from all across the Nation and they all came together and raised money for some great causes.

Sidebar - The event raised and additional 500 K during their annual auction. New Assistant Coach Nate James made a big splash in leading his team to the championship. His team had a key hard fought win in OT over Collins team and they rode the momentum to the title game. Matt Hancock was again the Academy's leading scorer. Other stat stuffers are as follows, Duke Football SID, Art Chase, Fred Perpell who designed the new practice facility, Scott Walker, Rick Schaull, Ted Virtue, Jeff Klein, Steve Cronin, Rich Grodin, Jeff Feinberg and others as well. In the end, James team showed balance with a roster consisting of Rick Schaull, Brian Grodin, Chuck Goldfarb, Tim Dunstan, Bob Porcelli, Eddy Cue, Clifton Knight, Tom Gardner and Ty Miller. The Blue Devil Nation captured the spirit of the event in our photo galleries which will be updated shortly. So, please check them out.