Duke basketball: 50 best players to play for Coach K

Nov 12, 2021; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski prior to a game against the Army Black Knights at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2021; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski prior to a game against the Army Black Knights at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Best Duke Basketball Players
2 APR 1994: DUKE FORWARD GRANT HILL SPLITS THE FLORIDA DEFENSE DURING THE NCAA SEMI-FINAL IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA. DUKE WON, 70-65. Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger/ALLSPORT /

2. Grant Hill (1990-1994)

Coming in at number two is Grant Hill, who had one of the biggest impacts on the Duke basketball program out of anyone who has ever stepped foot in Cameron Indoor Stadium. Hill got to Duke ahead of the 1990-91 season, immediately after Duke made it to two consecutive Final Fours, and three Final Fours in four years.

Hill, however, might have been the link Duke was missing on those three Final Four teams, and if they had him, maybe they would have won a National Championship. Hill made an immediate impact for Duke as he held a four-year average of 14.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game.

The Blue Devils won the National Championship in each of the first two seasons Hill was in Durham. Over the course of his four years, they won three ACC Regular Season titles, an ACC Tournament title, and they also made it to the National Championship game once more, in addition to the two they won.

Hill received All-ACC, and All-ACC Tournament honors three times each, was the 1993-94 ACC Player of the Year, was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team twice and was also a two-time consensus All-American.

After graduating from Duke in 1994, Hill was selected with the third overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons, and he went on to have an incredible career in the NBA. He was the 1994-95 Rookie of the Year, received All-NBA honors five times, was an All-Star seven times, and he is also a member of the Hall of Fame. Had it not been for an ankle injury that turned into MRSA, Hill legitimately could have been one of the greatest basketball players of all time.