Duke
Duke's Ryan Kelly looks to bring a new game to the court
Aug 11, 2010
Raleigh, N.C. — Rarely does Duke have a player from Raleigh on its basketball team.
Ryan Kelly is the exception, and the sophomore gets an earful from local fans and friends.
“It’s awesome,” Kelly said. “There are a lot more people that love you and back you,” Kelly said of going to college close to home. “There are also a lot more people who hate you for picking the wrong school, in their opinion.”
With a national championship on his resume, Kelly believes he chose the correct college.
He picked Duke over several schools like North Carolina and Notre Dame following an All-America career at Ravenscroft High School in Raleigh.
But Kelly rarely came off the bench during his freshman year at Duke, averaging 1.2 points and 6.5 minutes per game.
“Most freshmen come in hoping they’re going to be the superstar,” Kelly said. “With my high school credentials, I think I did the same. At the time, I just wasn’t physically ready.”
That is why Kelly spent hours this offseason lifting weights.
“This summer, I probably gained fifteen, twenty pounds,” he said.
Now, Kelly weighs in at 235. He used his bigger frame to his advantage during an impressive season in the N.C. Pro Am summer league in Durham. Kelly displayed an inside-out game.
Though a good jump shooter, Kelly expects to play more in the paint this season for guard-heavy Duke.
“I’d like to say I’m pretty skilled with my back to the basket,” he said. “With this added strength, I think I’ll be able to show that a little more.”
As for Kelly’s life off the court, he has dated Bill Cowher’s daughter, Lindsay, since both attended Ravenscroft.
What was it like taking her out at first knowing Coach Cowher was waiting at home? Kelly laughed off the question.
“I’ve gotten to know Mr. Cowher pretty well,” Kelly said. “He’s a great guy. He’s not quite the guy you see on the field, and I think that’s something a lot of people don’t see about a lot of coaches, whether it’s [Mike Krzyzewski] or coach Cowher. They’re normal guys when they’re off the field or off the court.”
But if Cowher told Kelly to bring his daughter home by a certain time, “I’m early,” Kelly said.
Copyright 2012 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Most Recent Comments
RE: Duke's Ryan Kelly looks to bring a new game to the court
I saw his interview last evening. Good interview. Sounded mature enough. Said all of the correct things; especially when he stated....Mr. Cowher. He has learned early in his short life thus far.
I just went back after reading some of these, and edited. Some want to throw this young, intelligent young man under the bus. He had one hell of an interview. Could some of you critics done as well?
- Posted by Hokie 94
Not only could they not have done as well as Ryan Kelly did with the interview NOW, much less so when they were what - 19?
He does look like a good kid - the kind of guy Cowher probably doesn't mind dating his daughter.
It's easy to be mean hiding behind a computer.
RE: Duke's Ryan Kelly looks to bring a new game to the court
I saw his interview last evening. Good interview. Sounded mature enough. Said all of the correct things; especially when he stated....Mr. Cowher. He has learned early in his short life thus far.
I just went back after reading some of these, and edited. Some want to throw this young, intelligent young man under the bus. He had one hell of an interview. Could some of you critics done as well?
no headline provided
To all you tarholes: tell me, what was it like losing in the NIT this year? Think you might win the NIT next year?
- Posted by Drakula_I_G
you little boys who think you concern us Tar Heels fans with your childish NIT talk are badly mistaken. UNC has more NCAA appearances than the d00k boys and won more too! WE KNOW WITH NO UNCERTAINTY that our program is better than yours and always will be. Get use to the ugly step sister role, you deserve it because you (and d00k) are second fiddle, as usual.
RE: Duke's Ryan Kelly looks to bring a new game to the court
wow, you know its a bad sports day when we have to read an article about how Ryan Kelly is going to bring a new game to the court. LOL, what a joke.
RE: Duke's Ryan Kelly looks to bring a new game to the court
I just went back and read the comments. You people are vicious! Sometimes kids take a little time to adjust to the college game. And he's at Duke, so he's probably not going to contribute from day one. He had a good game at that pro-am. Sheesh, I'm a State fan and I'm defending a Raleigh kid that chose Duke over State. But give the kid a break!
- Posted by TruthBKnown Returns
See what just happened here?
Throw Zeller's ugly mug up there and watch the venom fly (don't play innocent, TBKR). But one of the other Triangle trolls from down the road and it's more State/Duke chummyness vs. UNC smack. Every day we have to read them coattail each other. It's like this forum is their own personal ABC support group.
I was actually referring to the comments about his playing ability. And I generally try to stay away from talking about someone's looks. I cringe every time people comment about Duke's
ugly cheerleaders, too. But you're right, people also talk about Zeller looking like Ichabod Crane (which he
kinda does). I try to stay above that kind of post as much as possible, unless something is just too funny not to say. :)
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