I caught up with former Duke basketball player Roshown Mcleod.  Roshown took the time to sit down with the Blue Devil Nation and allowed me to probe his life.  In the following interview, he tells us what he is doing these days.  He then recalls his memories as a Dukie and speaks of his NBA days.  Needless to say Roshown is another in a long line of former Blue Devil players that benefited from playing for Coach K and Duke University.  Enjoy -

Roshwon Mcleod is working with high school prospects these days.      Ro's Stats

Tell the readers of the Blue Devil Nation what you have been up to these days.

RM - I've been coaching a little bit of high school basketball in Atlanta.  And then I started my own company called Next Level Players Development where I'm training and working with some of the AAU programs in the Atlanta area.  This is also the first year that I will work with kids around the country.  I've been working with kids like Darius Miller and Jordan Hamilton outside of the Georgia area and I work with the Stars(Georgia AAU team) go to their practices including some of the Atlanta Celtics players.

In working with them, what are you trying to teach them?

RM - Some players with great athletic skills become so individualized in the game these days, so I'm trying to teach them how to interact with the team.  You have to always remember that the best team wins.  So, you can have the best player but not the best team.

Do you work with them in terms of the eventual college recruitment ... what to expect?

RM - I prepare them for what coaches look for.  I talk to them about school and how to position yourself to be available and how to prepare for their SATs.  I tell them no matter how good they are as a player that no coach is going to change their system for you.  So you have to be able to adjust and understand who you are as a player.

Do you try to help a player with his decision .. steer them in a certain direction?

RM - I leave that to the parents.  I make them aware of the pro's and con's,  Some of the parents, especially Mothers don't understand the business, so I lay it out for them and tell them in a way they understand the process.  I let them make the best decision for their kid.  At the end of the day, their the ones that have to live with it.  If they know everything around them, it makes for a more comfortable decision.

Are you married?

RM - Yes, I've been married for five years.  My wife is very beautiful.  She's from Illinois.  My son is eleven and my daughter is six, seven in August.

Tell me about your days at Duke.  Tell me the one thing that stands out above everything else ...

The fellowship!  I mean my old team, we were like brothers.  We still keep in contact.  I talk with everybody I played with during my two years there.  I remember all of us trying to make each other better.  That's what made us the best team in the ACC and we won back to back championships,  We won a lot of games.  So, the fellowship is the one thing I remember most.

Duke doesn't take a lot of transfers.  You came in from St. John's ... was that a good decision for you?

RM - Transferring to Duke opened the doors for me a lot faster.  My goal was to get to the NBA.  I knew who I was as a player, so I felt I could play on any team.  But Duke's offense allowed me to showcase what my strengths were.  Scoring, being efficient and leadership skills.

What was the difference in St. Johns and Duke?

Well, if you look at St. Johns at the time, they ran a slow deliberate offense.  I would often play center in their system.  I knew I wouldn't end up as a center and felt I wasn't growing as a player.

At Duke I got to put the ball on the floor and shoot the three and played some center.  That made the decision a lot easier, in that playing a better system of basketball.

So, Duke fit into your style?

RM - At Duke each players is taught to change positions during a game.  They run a motion offense, so if you set a screen or apply yourself when you are in the post, you know what to do there.  If you want to get out of the post they teach you how to come out and screen.  You learn a thought process on where to be with or without the ball and what to do in every situation.

What are your memories on Coach K?  Give it all to me, good and bad.

RM - (smiling)  My fondest memory?  He really brought out the best in me,  Coach made me believe and realize that I was invincible when played at the highest level.  I felt that way as an offensive player and I knew I had to work on defense.  But as an offensive player he made me feel invincible, instilling that thought process into my game.

The worst memory ... we were playing the Mercer game and he put me in with the walk on's.  It motivated me.

Coach K did a wonderful job preparing his team and does so to this day.  I mean they won 22 games last year and that's not a great season by Duke standards.  But he had a lot of young players and they'll be much tougher this season.

Do you feel like you gained a lot of life skills while at Duke and under Coach K?  Did you learn things that you might carry with you the rest of your life?

RM - I really did.  Coach taught us how to be well rounded people.  It wasn't just about basketball at Duke,  On or off the court, in the class room, he prepared every player.  We would practice interviewing and stuff like that.  When you have a guy like that ... who is so keen in developing you as a person, you have no choice but to be successful in life.

Who was your best friend at Duke?

RM - Chris Carrawell is a good friend.  I still talk to Shane, Trajan ... I talk to them all, but Chris Carrawell, a quality guy.  He's playing overseas.  So he is making a good life for himself.  He just got married.

I actually interviewed him last year. It was a good interview as this one is.

You look very comfortable and content.  What are your hopes for the future?

RM - I had a tough time dealing with the way my NBA career ended due to injury.  I had a pinched nerve in my knee which caused me to have a drop foot.  I continued to try and play but my leg kept going numb. I eventually ruptured my Achilles tendon by over compensating.  I then figured out that if I was going to be happy in basketball, I'd have to figure out another way to apply myself.  So, I started coaching to get back in the game.  Basketball has given me a lot and hopefully in the future somebody may want to bring me on their staff.  I'd like to find a program that I could help, using my personality.

So, you are open to an assistant coaching job?

RM - Oh yeah.  If the right opportunity comes along.  I coached at Fairfield under former Duke assistant Tim O'Toole for one year.  That's when I realized I wasn't ready yet.  I was thinking like a player and not like a coach.  So, I spent time with my family but eventually came back to the game realizing how much I missed it.  Now, I'm prepared mentally.  It's tougher being a coach than it is being a player, so you have to prepare.

What is your best memory from your days in the NBA?

RM - Actually playing in the play offs with the Hawks in my rookie year.  They had such a veteran team.  The experience I got from Tyrone Corbin, Grant Long and Dekembe Mutombo, even Coach Rick Mahorn.  I'll carry that with me the rest of my life.  I can share those experiences with the kids I work with now.

If you had it to do over again ... would you do anything different?

RM - Except going to Duke out of high school?  I considered Duke.  He (K) had one scholarship and gave it to Joey Beard.  I wanted to wait for my decision and check every opportunity.  St. Johns was a good choice at the time, but things change.  It  ended up being Duke after all.  So, I am happy.  If I can share my experiences and information with youngsters and their families, then I am doing the right thing.

You seem morally grounded and such ...

RM - My Mom passed away back in 2000.  She was an Evangelist.  She really traveled and spoke the word of God.  I was forced to build my own personal relationship when she passed.  I didn't realize I was a part of her blessing,  Now that I am older, be more responsible and have more responsibilities.  The only way to get through it is with a higher power.  My personal relationship  with God has really put me here.  I tell my kids to play for something bigger than yourself.

Do you still watch Duke to this day?

RM - I go to about six games a year and I watch every game on TV. 

If someone were to ask you about Duke would you give the Blue Devils a high recommendation?

RM - Oh, no doubt.  Duke will always be one of the elite programs.  They've really established something over the last twenty years.  They were a little down last season, but they'll be back.

Were you able to get up with the Duke staff this week?

RM- Yes. I was able to get with Jeff Capel, the coach of Oklahoma, Wojo and Johnny Dawkins.  We were able to share our experiences.  You can take those conversations and what you learn and share them with others or apply them to what you are doing right now. It's good to hear somebody elses perspective about it.

Okay, I'm treading on uneasy ground here.  Tell me something about Coach Dawkins and Wojo that nobody else knows?

RM - (laughing) Coach Dawkins loves motorcycles, but his wife won't let him get one. 

Wojo?

RM - He's the son he never had. (again snickering before becoming serious).  Wojo is a competitor, but until you get him out of a competitive environment, you don't realize how nice of a guy he is.

Well, I have to figure out if I can print that. (sly)  Thanks for your time and best of luck in the future.

RM - Thank you, Mark.

Thanks for a great interview Ro!

Several people have asked me about the premium/newsletter and what it's about.  We cover recruiting and happenings that may go on behind he scene.  There are interviews with the nations top recruits, giving one an idea who Duke may go after.

As many of you know, Coach  has an in house with Patrick Patterson this evening and we will cover how the visit went.

With Singler and Patterson visiting in September, it is a great time to subscribe to the Blue Devil Nation to get top notch, accurate recruiting tips and much more.

You can subscribe here  http://myblogdevils.eponym.com/blog/HowdoIjointhePremiumNewsletter

Don't miss a beat on Duke Basketball or Football.  Here is a sample of what you will find.  This interview was recently conducted with 2009 prospect Luke Babbitt, a versatile player from Reno, Nevada.

This is a sample of what awaits-

Luke Babbitt

What position do you see yourself playing in college?

LB-  Some might consider me a PF, but I think of myself as being versatile and feel I could adapt to several situations.

The AAU events  you participate in seem a bit demanding, yet rewarding ... what are your thoughts about it?

LB- The Development aspect of it is rewarding as is the camaraderie one develops with the participants.  Seeing different camps ... atmosphere ... things like that.

What part of your game did you work on over the Summer?

LB- Multiple things.  I practiced on shooting off the dribble.  I worked on my defensive footwork and my  positioning.

Have you had any offers yet?

LB- Yes. Texas, Arizona, Washington, Syracuse, Nevada ...

I get the picture.  A lot of schools are interested. 

Are any other schools actively calling you or are the teams mentioned your leaders?

LB- Kansas, Duke and UCLA have all called.  They are on my list too.

What type of school would you like to attend?  Have you thought about things like  private or public ... large or small campus?

LB- I'm uncertain on that at the moment.  It just depends.

What will factor into your decision on a college destination?

LB- The comfort level with the players, staff and people are big for me. The exposure.  I want to play basketball on a high level.  I want a place where I can fulfill my potential.

Did you have a special team you watched growing up?

LB-  Well, my family was originally from Cincinnati, Ohio.  So I watched the Bear Cats when I was real young.  We have lived in Reno for seven years now .  I have watched a lot of teams since those days.

I have read reports that you are a good student ...

LB- I am maintaining a 3.9 GPA.

Have you thought about education yet ... what you might like to major in?

LB- No, not too much.  As a rising Junior, I have a little time to think about that.

Do you have want to play in the NBA ... do you think you'd leave college early? 

LB- Well, of course I'd like to play in the Pro game.  At this point though, I envision myself as a four year player in college.

Describe your game in your words ...

LB- Versatile.  I have a good inside, outside game.  I am unselfish and team oriented.

So, when did you first start hooping?

LB-  I can't really remember ... I was like seven.

What does Luke Babbitt to to chill in Reno, Nevada?

LB-  I like to golf ... play games and go to movies ... hangout with friends.

What would be your favorite way to win a game ... a dunk or a 3 pointer?

LB-  Well, I have won a game on a three pointer.  So, I'd have to go with a dunk.

What three words or phrases would best describe Luke Babbitt?

LB- Unselfish, versatile and a desire to win.

What is in your gaming system right now?

LB- NCAA College Football 07. 

You are ranked number 24 in your class by Scout.com.  Has the consistent rise in the rankings been rewarding for you?

LB- I had  good camps at Adidas, as well as the NBA Players Association Camp, but I am not too caught up in ratings and are concentrating on going back to school and hoping to go to State with the Galena Grizzlies.

I will add a couple of more questions and answers from the session later

We are making this Samardo Samuels update free to all readers of the Blue Devil Nation.  This is designed to give one an idea of what type of interviews and updates to expect from the premium/newsletter.  You can subscribe for 35.00 for three months, 60.00 for six or 100.00 for the year.  Please scroll down and read the article below for further detail on how to apply for newsletter access.  Samardo is currently ranked number one in his class by many recruiting services.  This is one of the more brief interviews, but shed light on where the young man is in the recruiting process.  There is very nicely detailed interview on Luke Babbitt waiting should you decide to try the service and more to come this week on yet another prospect from 2008.  I will be adding thought on these players games  and talk of where Duke may be in the recruiting process. Joining would immediately allow access to the archives and chats with Greg Monroe, Patrick Patterson and Kyle Singler too.  We will also be adding football updates by weeks end and look of some good football information coming to Blue Devil Nation by the end of the week.

 Photo courtesy of Scout.com

Samardo Samuels plays for St. Benedict's Prep School and knows Lance Thomas.  He is 6-8, 222 power player.  His AAU team is the Metro Hawks.  His downfall could be that he is an average student.  UNC and Florida have  turned it up for his services of late.  While they are getting in late, both seem to be on a list of seven or so favorites.  He has been offered by two major schools.

So you missed some AAU ball to attend Summer School.  How did that go?

SS- It went well. I made good grades and passed.

What part of your game did you work on over the Summer?

SS- I worked hard on my mid range shot.  I continued to work on my low post game taking short turnaround shots. I am developing a hook shot.

Are you watching the USA play?  What players do you like to watch?

SS- Yes!  I am enjoying the games.  I enjoy watching Carmelo Anthony play.

What are you doing away from hoops?

SS- I hang close with my friends, go to movies ... the usual stuff.

Do you have any dream schools?

SS- No, not really.  I watched mostly pro games coming up. UNC ... I have watched them some.

What schools have shown interest?  Do you have a list yet?

SS- St. John's, Rutgers, Georgetown, Duke, UNC and Miami.  There are a couple more too.

Have any of them offered?

SS- St. John's and Rutgers.  I talk to a lot of schools though. I have talked to Duke, Miami and Florida assistants and UNC just contacted me a couple of months ago.

Florida?

SS- Yes. They have started to call a lot lately.

When will you cut the list down?

SS_-Well ... the schools I mentioned are pretty much the short list.

What kind of a coach are you looking to play for?

SS-One who will take care of me, preparing me for pro ball and an education.

Who is your favorite pro player ... one you'd like to play like ..

SS- Tim Duncan.  I like his game.

Who is the toughest player you took on of late?

SS- Kosta Koufos (Ohio State bound)

What three words best describe Samardo Samuels?

SS- Emotional, easy going, powerful

I

I had an opportunity to catch up with former ACC POY, Chris Carrawell yesterday and he was kind enough to speak openly with The Blue Devil Nation,  Chris had recently finished a camp he ran with former teammate Nate James and was working the Coach K Academy Camp this weekend where he assisted former Dukie Quin Snyder who acted as the Head Coach and current AC Chris Collins and former player Chip Engelland, who is know staffed by the San Antonio Spurs. Duke Update link to Chris Carrawell career stats.

http://myblogdevils.eponym.com/blog/ExDukePlayers/_archives/2006/7/30/2180585.html

BDN: Hi Chris!  Tell me a little bit about the Coach K Academy Camp you have just finished working?

CC: Well, I have been working this camp for the last few years.  It's great fun.  The guys are out there competing and they are really into it and having fun and I meet guys that I would have never met unless I was in this type setting.  Coach K does a great thing with his fantasy camp and it goes for a good cause.

BDN: Tell us a little about the camp you just ran with Nate James.  Will this be an ongoing thing?

CC:We had been talking about having a camp of our own for awhile and this Summer was the first time we had done so.  It ran for two weeks at Durham Academy.  The first week we had about 170 kids and the second week we had about 200 kids.  We have been getting great reports about it ... the parents enjoyed it and the kids enjoyed it and for us that was the best thing about the experience for the kids to get something out of it and it was a success for us in our first year.

BDN:  I was able to help you out a little but with some donations for underprivileged kids, although you had worked on that before I ran the Nate James interview.  Since you will be having the camp again will you still take donations for kids next season?

CC: Yes!  It will be held sometime in July.  The dates are not set yet and we have had feedback from parents who are interested in a third week of camp, so that may come to fruition.  We are definitely taking donations for underprivileged kids who for various circumstances couldn't come to the camp.  As a kid growing up in a rough part of St. Louis.  I was poor with a single parent Mother and four kids.  I was fortunate that I had the opportunity to go to some camps under similar circumstances and it worked out well for me, keeping me away from trouble.  So, yes if you want to make a donation go to NateJames/ChrisCarrawellCamp.com

BDN: When you were a junior in high school the Sporting News had you ranked in the top ten in your class,  You had an injury that season and your stock fell a little bit.  Can you elaborate on that a little bit?

CC: Going into my junior year I was a USA today Top forty All American and was top ten going into my senior year by many services.  I went to the Nike All American Camp going into my senior season and I didn't play that well, having separated my shoulder.  It kept popping out on me so my stock dropped. I had a solid Senior year ... we won a state championship, but I had to reconstruct my game when I announced that I was coming to Duke. A lot of people didn't think I could make it at Duke. Some people said I was damaged goods.  So, I had to prove to them and Coach K who took a chance on me that it was the right choice.  They were the top school in the country then ... they are still the top school.  For all the kids who might be listening or reading this ... I had to deal with some adversity and some injuries, but I kept believing in myself and kept working.  That's what I would encourage anybody to do.

BDN: Tell us about the season when Elton Brand, William Avery and Corey Maggette went pro early and Trajan Langdon graduated.  Duke lost four fist round picks that season.  Nate said that you guys got together and went to see Coach K ... can you elaborate on that a little bit for us?

CC: Shane Battier, Nate James and myself went to see Coach K.  A lot of Chaos was going on on campus.  Players were leaving early and unexpectedly for the first time ... Chris Burgess was talking about transferring and Coach had just had hip surgery.  So, we hadn't talked to him in a couple of weeks and we came up with the idea lets go see Coach and talk to him.  A lot of negative things had been written and we wanted to see where he was at with all the turmoil.  He was happy to see us.  We talked about who we had coming in and I asked Coach if he thought we were going to be good and he said that we were going to be good.  We were Duke.  That was the start of  what was a great senior year for me.  We finished up 29-5 and won the ACC Regular Season Champs and ACC Tournament Champs and a number one seed.

BDN:  Do you consider that your best year at Duke?

CC: Definitely!  Even though we had a better team my junior year when we lost in the final game, the satisfaction of having my best year at Duke when a lot of people thought we were not going to be good or that we couldn't step it up was a tremendous experience.

BDN:  You won the ACC Player of the Year that season.  How did that feel?

CC:  For me it was a dream come true, to be recognized as one of the best players in the best conference in the country.  The ACC is synonymous with greatness and to be a part of that in history is an honor.  Its something I will take to the grave with me ... that I did what Johnny Dawkins, Christian Laettner and Grant Hill did while at Duke University.

BDN: You had 1,455 points in your career.  That is a great accomplishment at a School like Duke where everybody plays team ball.  Are you happier having that accomplishment than had you gone to a lesser school and more than doubled that total?

CC: Yes!  I am very happy with that.  I was a team player and played unselfish.  When I came in we were nine or ten players deep during my four years and to score that many points was a great accomplishment to me with those players.

BDN:  How did it feel to be named first team All American?

CC:  It was great.  It was a dream come true ... one that many kids can only dream of.  Coming from where I did in St. Louis and back from nagging injuries and being a role player for my first three years at Duke made it most satisfying.

BDN:  Tell me a little bit about what it was like to grow up as you did in St. Louis?

CC: It was tough.  We had a lot of gangs and drugs in the inner city.  It was the ghetto and it was hard to stay away from trouble,  Kids would deal drugs at twelve or joining gangs or not going to school.  There were a lot of single parent homes.  For me, I was one of the lucky ones because my mom was into the Church and kept me straight.  She kept us put of the streets.  I give her a lot of props!  She is wonderful and for me to make it to a university such as Duke ... who would have imagined that?  My mom is the key the head of the family.  I have two younger brothers and a younger sister that is in college.  One brother is in the military.  She kept us straight.

BDN:  You battled more adversity, going to San Antonio in the second round of the NBA draft which did not secure a guaranteed contract.  You seem to have come to grips with that.  I know that is a tough subject, but can you speak of that?

CC: It was tough for me.  I am still not sure what the problem was and it took me three or four years to get a grip on it.  POY's always went in the first round and I thought I deserved that guaranteed contract.  To this day it is a soft spot for me.  I thought I had worked hard enough for a three year guarantee, but it didn't happen.  So I have had to deal with that, but now I am coming around.  I came to grips with it.  I remember we had a conversation in Wallace Wade Stadium while working out about a year ago and you helped me realize that some things happen in life that you just don't understand, but what are you going to do?  So, at that point and time I thought to myself lets move on and go on to whats going to happen next.

BDN: Well, you've come a long way since then and I certainly can't take any credit for that but I am glad that conversation we had played a little role.  It is good to see that you got back into great playing shape and are participating in the Duke Family and have yourself on a great track in life ...

CC: I was overweight last Summer, mainly due to a hernia injury that sidetracked me for a year and a half.  I got it back together though and went on to play in the ABA and get my name back out there.  I played well, I got the player of the league and won the championship with my team, the Rochester Razor Sharks.  I was then able to played in Venezuela and I just recently got married.  I am doing well.  God has been good.

BDN:  So you feel blessed.  You feel God has put you through some trials to strengthen you?

CC:  Absolutely!  Without Him I could have turned to alcohol or drugs.  It's easy to go the opposite route ... a lot of people do.  I thank him for keeping his hand on me.  I am on the way back up.  I am doing some good things.  I am positive.

BDN: So, once you started doing things like working with kids and things like that ... it fulfills you by telling them of your trials and tribulations?

CC:  I tell them my story at my camp.  I tell them exactly what I am telling you.  Stay focused. Avoid the peer pressure.  Don't get a little cocky because things can go the other way and there can be a lot of negative influences that will pull you down, but you have to say no and stay focused.  I tell kids the truth,  I don't sugarcoat it, I tell them this is what happened or can happen.  Deal with it. We fall down, but you get up and keep it moving.

BDN:  Tell me three words that best describe Chris Carrawell?

CC:  Tough, hard-working and honest.

BDN: ... three words that describe Duke Basketball?

CC: Family, an experience and honor.  It was an honor for me and it was unbelievable.  I am still in awe of how I ended up at Duke.  It was an honor to go to Duke.

BDN: Do you feel to this day that you can always go talk to Coach K about issues in life?

CC:  Definitely!  I played four years for him and gave him my all and he has been there for me since I left.  I finished up and got my degree and it has all been good for me.  Our relationship is good.

BDN: So who is your best friend in life?

CC: Besides my wife .. Nate James.

BDN: Okay give me something nobody else knows about Nate?

CC: Well Nate's is my man, we came in together and we are tight.  But I can tell you want something different (smiling) ...  He's cheap.  A tightwad.

BDN:  So where did Nate "Dogg" come from?

CC: Dogg? Hey, that's just him he's a Dogg.  He is going to play hard, challenge you.  He is going to be tough, defend and he is going to win.

BDN: So you just got married ... tell me when you got married?

CC: Two weeks ago ... July 15th.  Keisha Royster from Warrenton, North Carolina.  We got married outside at the Washington Duke Inn.  It was great, it was great.

BDN: So what does the rest of the Summer hold for Chris Carrawell?

CC:  Well, I hope to take some time off  for a little while after the camps amd spend a little time with my wife.   I will be working out though, staying in shape and likely go overseas.  I have a couple of agents checking out the best situations for me.

BDN:  Well, best of luck to you Chris and thanks for talking to the Blue Devil Nation.  I am sure I speak for the BDN is saying we will all be pulling for you and thank you for the memories and effort you gave while at Duke University.

CC: Thanks!  It was a pleasure.  Please visit our site and support Nate and myself during next seasons clinic.

--

I covered a few pick up basketball games for the Duke Basketball Report http://www.dukebasketballreport.com/ the year Brand, Langdon, Maggete, Burgess and Avery left.   I stated that Chris would be All ACC and that Shane and Nates added leadership, along with some talented freshmen, would still make Duke the ACC team to beat.  Not too many people believed me.

A good friend of mine, that is a successful sportswriter didn't see it the day he came in, nor did many others.  That is what made that season special to me, in that few people thought Duke could bounce back. 

That season Nate, Shane and Coach K and of course the aforementioned talented freshman  did an amazing job... but it was a kid that came out of a St. Louis ghetto that stepped his game up in a most memorable way.  As he said, who would have thought a team with three returning players that had played any time at all would go 29-5 and who would have thought a role player would step up to be the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year?

As many of you know Jeff Capel took over the HC job at Oklahoma.  I was able to catch up with him for a great interview.  You could see how the former Duke players bonded.  He came by and gave me a pat on the shoulder as I sat near the Duke staff during the Peach Jam and I later talked with him just after he had chatted with another former Dukie, Tommy Amaker.

BDN-  How do you feel abut landing the job at Oklahoma?

JC- I feel honored.  It's a tremendous program, with tradition, great facilities, a great university.  To follow in the steps of coached like Billy Tubbs, Coach Drake from back in the day, who took the program to the first final four and of course Coach Sampson.

BDN-  Where do you envision your program in five years?

JC- Hopefully we are able to get our first recruiting class and that the seniors by then will still be there, despite a recent trend of leaving early.  We hope to have some players that will put their stamp on the program.  We want guys that want to be a part of something bigger than them.  We will strive to establish ourselves as one of the premier programs in the country.

BDN- What style of play will the Sooners commit to?

JC- Well of course I didn't know what our roster would look like with turnover.  I'd like to play fast, get up and down the floor.  I do not like players to be robots.  Our guys are working hard this summer.  The word I would use is attacking.

BDN-  Tell me about your coaching genes...

JC- It plays into me with a coach and person, I have been blessed with my Dad who was a great Father and always involved in coaching.  My High School Coach Miller had a great influence on me. Then I had the chance to play for one of the greatest Coaches ever in Coach K.  Those three men have molded me.  They taught me about life ... from failure to adversity and I have been through them all, playing for a National Championship to being in the hospital. 

BDN-Elaborate on that for us ...

 JC- In the Summer of  98 I was diagnosed with a serious ulcer disease.  It came out of nowhere.  I had just got back from the Chicago Bulls mini camp and all of a sudden I couldn't keep food down.  The scary part is that they could not figure out what was wrong with me and I took a battery of tests and Ulcer (I admit I can't spell it/disease).  They did not know what causes it, so there is no cure and I took up to twenty two pills a day.  In the Fall of 98 I was seeing a specialist at Duke and they weighed me.  Back in June I was 225 pounds and in the best shape of my life.  When I got on the scales I was at 165 pounds and they admitted me immediately yo the hospital.  I spent seven to ten scary days there, but luckily Duke found the right combination of meds and so I am grateful for that experience, in that it really changed my life and made me realize a lot of things.

BDN- So this gave you time to reflect ...

JC- Oh, absolutely.  Every time I got close to the NBA something happened.  I ruptured a disc in my back the first time and then I get sick and the third time  I had a back problem, where I was told I may not walk again if I didn't take care of myself.

BDN- So can you do anything physical?

JC- Oh yeah!  I can still play, especially in a half court setting (laughing)

BDN- Did you worry about OU being a football school?

JC- No.  I think it is a plus.  I have never coached at a school that had football.  At OU, football is a culture of its own and I embrace that.  It helps us when 86,000 people are seen with a passion for a sport.  I get along with Coach Stoops.  He is helpful to me, despite the fact that he doesn't have to be.  I have a great relationship with all the coaches and they embark me and I look forward to being a part of it.

BDN- Was it hard to leave VCU, in that you have been around Virginia mot of your life?

JC-  It was really hard to leave my  players.  I have lived in Richmond, Virginia longer than anywhere in my life.  My family moved around a lot, but it still seems like home and I have some great relationships with people there.  Guys that loved us and believed in us mad it hard to leave ... seeing their faces.  I think they understand I had an incredible opportunity.  I wouldn't leave VCU for anything less than that.

BDN- What are three words that best describe Jeff Capel?

JC- Passionate, honest, loyal.

BDN- How about three words that best describe Duke University?

JC- Special, family and elite.

BDN- Okay, while we are on my tough three word description q's.  How about three words that best describe Coach K.

JC- Passionate, honest, loyal (the same he said of himself)

BDN- You have had great success early on in  recruiting.  What do you attribute that to? (He has signed a Duke former Duke target and Patterson's friend Early)

JC- We have a passion at OU and great facilities.

BDN- So you are looking for players that want to buy into what you are trying to achieve?

JC- Yes, players that want to be a part of something special over time.

BDN_-So you will recruit in a wide national base?

JC- Yes.  We will go head to head with anybody.

BDN- What are your best memories from your playing days at Duke University?

JC-  The relationship with teammates and coaches.  Just like here I have been able to hang out with Chris Collins and Wojo and Tommy Amaker who is beside us.  Coach K is always there for me .. Collins, Wojo and I were teammates.  It will always tie us together.  We love each other and want to see one another successful.  Coach Brey, Amaker and I will have some head to head match ups because we all strive to win at the highest level.

BDN- Is there negative recruiting?

JC Yes.  But I do not do that and Duke does not do that.  If you do not have a lot of good thing to say about you, then that says it all.  There are plenty of good things to talk about and I can't worry with what others say.  I am honest with people, that is what I learned.

BDN- So, how is your brother Jason doing?

JC- He is doing great.  He played in pro A and is making great money in international ball.

BDN- How are you adjusting to OU, which has to be different from the East Coast?

JC-  I am taking my time in figuring out my surrounding, but the people are great.  I have never lived outside North Carolina or Virginia, but I am getting used to it.  It reminds me of the town my high school was in.  The whole state is about OU.

BDN- Okay!  Thanks for your time and best of luck.

JC- Hey make me look good.  I saw your interview with Nate and enjoy what you do for the Duke Basketball Report and such.  I am a fan and go there three time s a day.

 Amaker and Capel

It was great to find out that Jeff was familiar with my work and I feel he will be very successful at OU.  I must admit though that he did such a great interview, that I thought about editing it to Duke's favor;)  I will give him a break, because Duke will hold there on, but coaches better not sleep on the hard working Capel, who is hitting the recruiting trail hard.

 Tommy signs for a fan at the Peach Jam.