Duke basketball: 50 best players to play for Coach K

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Cherokee Parks #44, Forward for the Duke University Blue Devils wearing eye protecting spectacles during the NCAA Atlantic Coast Conference college basketball game against the University of Maryland Terrapins on 30th January 1993 at the Cole Field House in College Park, Maryland, United States. The Duke Blue Devils won the game 78 – 62. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Allsport/Getty Images) /

33. Cherokee Parks (1991-1995)

Cherokee Parks got to Duke at the tail end of an incredible run of five Final Fours in six years, and Duke was expected to be one of the best programs in the nation year-in, and year-out. There wasn’t much of an exception during Parks’ tenure in Durham. Parks didn’t play much of a role in his freshman season averaging only 5.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game, but Duke did win the National Championship in his freshman season.

However, Parks was a very important piece for Duke in each of his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons, averaging 15.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.9 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game over his final three seasons.

Parks was also named to an All-ACC team twice, the 1994 All-ACC Tournament team, helped the Blue Devils win the 1994 ACC Regular Season Title, and also led the Blue Devils back to the Final Four in 1994. Parks also played in the NBA for 10 seasons where he averaged 4.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game.