Duke Offers Former Warsaw Player

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.


ARDEN, N.C. - Mason Plumlee grew up cheering for the University of North Carolina's men's basketball team.

On Monday, the 6-foot-11 former Warsaw Community High School player was offered a full-ride scholarship by the Tar Heel's biggest rival - the Duke Blue Devils.[[In-content Ad]]"The offer from Duke wasn't something I expected," Plumlee said in a phone conversation Wednesday morning as he and Christ School coach David Gaines were on their way to the Blue Devils' game with Atlantic Coast Conference rival Maryland. "It was pretty neat to have them at practice and to get an offer from them. Coach (Mike) Krzyzewski is a great coach. Duke has always been good."

Krzyzewski and assistant coach Chris Collins showed up at Christ School - the private school in Arden, N.C., that Plumlee and his older brother Miles transferred to in the fall of 2006 - and made the official offer before the Greenies' practice.

"The way we play, and the way Duke plays, I think Mason is a perfect fit for Duke," said Gaines. "At 6-11, Mason is basically a guard. He has great instincts, great floor vision and a great feel for the game. All those things that I've seen for two years, Coach K saw them by watching some tape and a two-hour practice."

According to maxpreps.com, Christ School is the top-ranked high school team in North Carolina among all classes, both private schools and public schools.

Plumlee averages 14 points and 11 rebounds per game for the Greenies, who played their regular season finale Tuesday. Christ School is 29-2 entering state tournament play and looking for its third state championship in four years.

Not only did Krzyzewski come bearing a scholarship, he also had plenty of encouraging things to say.

The long-time Blue Devils coach told Gaines he believed he could build an offense at Duke around Plumlee, even suggesting the possibility of him being an NBA lottery pick.

"Coach K told me he doesn't like to lie or exaggerate," said Gaines. "He said he really believes those things about Mason. He didn't say he was going to be an NBA lottery pick, he said he saw the potential. He said he certainly has the skills and potential to be that. Coming from someone of his caliber, as great a coach as Coach K is, it was pretty amazing to hear those things."

Plumlee said after Christ School finished its season he would sit down with family and narrow down his list of schools, and said that he might make a verbal commitment this summer.

Among the schools he's most interested in, Plumlee listed Duke, Georgetown, Michigan, UCLA and Indiana.

Other schools that have offered scholarships include Notre Dame, Louisville, Stanford, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest and Xavier.

Miles Plumlee, a 6-10 senior, has already signed a national letter of intent to play at Stanford.

The elder Plumlee leads the Greenies in scoring at 16.5 points per game.

Christ School is the defending NCISAA 3A state champion and boasts an impressive 58-6 record since the Plumlees transferred to western North Carolina.

ARDEN, N.C. - Mason Plumlee grew up cheering for the University of North Carolina's men's basketball team.

On Monday, the 6-foot-11 former Warsaw Community High School player was offered a full-ride scholarship by the Tar Heel's biggest rival - the Duke Blue Devils.[[In-content Ad]]"The offer from Duke wasn't something I expected," Plumlee said in a phone conversation Wednesday morning as he and Christ School coach David Gaines were on their way to the Blue Devils' game with Atlantic Coast Conference rival Maryland. "It was pretty neat to have them at practice and to get an offer from them. Coach (Mike) Krzyzewski is a great coach. Duke has always been good."

Krzyzewski and assistant coach Chris Collins showed up at Christ School - the private school in Arden, N.C., that Plumlee and his older brother Miles transferred to in the fall of 2006 - and made the official offer before the Greenies' practice.

"The way we play, and the way Duke plays, I think Mason is a perfect fit for Duke," said Gaines. "At 6-11, Mason is basically a guard. He has great instincts, great floor vision and a great feel for the game. All those things that I've seen for two years, Coach K saw them by watching some tape and a two-hour practice."

According to maxpreps.com, Christ School is the top-ranked high school team in North Carolina among all classes, both private schools and public schools.

Plumlee averages 14 points and 11 rebounds per game for the Greenies, who played their regular season finale Tuesday. Christ School is 29-2 entering state tournament play and looking for its third state championship in four years.

Not only did Krzyzewski come bearing a scholarship, he also had plenty of encouraging things to say.

The long-time Blue Devils coach told Gaines he believed he could build an offense at Duke around Plumlee, even suggesting the possibility of him being an NBA lottery pick.

"Coach K told me he doesn't like to lie or exaggerate," said Gaines. "He said he really believes those things about Mason. He didn't say he was going to be an NBA lottery pick, he said he saw the potential. He said he certainly has the skills and potential to be that. Coming from someone of his caliber, as great a coach as Coach K is, it was pretty amazing to hear those things."

Plumlee said after Christ School finished its season he would sit down with family and narrow down his list of schools, and said that he might make a verbal commitment this summer.

Among the schools he's most interested in, Plumlee listed Duke, Georgetown, Michigan, UCLA and Indiana.

Other schools that have offered scholarships include Notre Dame, Louisville, Stanford, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest and Xavier.

Miles Plumlee, a 6-10 senior, has already signed a national letter of intent to play at Stanford.

The elder Plumlee leads the Greenies in scoring at 16.5 points per game.

Christ School is the defending NCISAA 3A state champion and boasts an impressive 58-6 record since the Plumlees transferred to western North Carolina.
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