Amile Jefferson adds fuel to Duke vs. NC State

By Jeff Gravley
May 16, 2012

comments

Through two ACC expansions, NC State and Duke have not been aligned as primary partners. That and the Blue Devils 21-4 record against the Wolfpack since 2000 have contributed to a watering down of the rivalry.

Amile Jefferson just poured gas on the fire.

A top recruit from the Philadelphia area, Jefferson pinged and ponged back and forth between Duke and NC State. He waited and waited, which teased both fan bases. He told Wolfpack coaches how much he loved what they are doing. They were as confident as you can be in recruiting, that Jefferson would land in West Raleigh. Even ninety minutes before Jefferson's scheduled announcement, a Wolfpack insider told me that Amile would be wearing red and white.

But in the world if recruiting, coaches, media and fans can't take all of the bait that is being tossed in the water. Until that player gives his choice by voice, hat or shaving a logo in his head, you just don't know.

Jefferson spoke about playing on the same Cameron court where so many greats have. He glowingly spoke about playing for Coach K, the guy who coaches some of the players Amile admires...LeBron, Kobe, Durant. So cynics out there, coaching the Olympic team has helped Duke recruit.

Amile's dad, Malcolm Musgrove, has said how much street cred Duke has in the Philadelphia area. Some of the credit could go to Gerald Henderson who played his high school basketball in Pennsylvania. Maybe some remember back 20 years when Grant Hill connected with Christian Laettner for the shot that beat Kentucky at the Spectrum in Philly. The power of Duke surrounded Jefferson before he became a prospect. That was a lot for NC State to overcome but credit the staff for staying in the hunt until the final hour.

Amile Jefferson knew if he chose Duke or NC State he would have to face the wrath of the non-chosen fan base during the season. One State fan that I saw the day before Jefferson announced his decision talked glowingly about Amile's game. The day after Jefferson signed up with Duke, that same Wolfpack fan told me Jefferson just wasn't that good anyway. "Go to Duke where your game won't develop," the fan said.

So welcome to Tobacco Road Amile! Harrison Barnes, who chose North Carolina over Duke, survived his visits to Cameron Indoor. Jefferson will get through playing at PNC arena wearing enemy clothing. He will get an earful and probably won't have time to read all of the creative signs designed just for him.

Most Recent Comments

View All Comments

RE: Amile Jefferson adds fuel to Duke vs. NC State

Duke vs. NCSU is a VERY underrated rivalry. These 2 teams hate each other. If it wasn't for the 21-4 record since 2000, it would be an even better rivalry. NC State is back, that's for sure. Duke and NCSU are both clearly ahead of UNC this year, and in the future.

Note: Amile Jefferson and Rasheed Sulaimon are both ranked higher than all 4 of UNC's recuits, and 2 of the 3 NCSU recruits.

Great job, Coach K!
- Posted by DukeBlue00

Golf clap for you.Of course,Josh McRoberts was rated higher than Thler Hansbrough too.........

RE: Amile Jefferson adds fuel to Duke vs. NC State

The only thing proven by re-posting the same lame web "letter" over and over again is that you have nothing original to contribute of your own.

you're just now realizing this???

LMBAO!!!

her only "original" thoughts are FAILED prognostications...

if it weren't for FAILURE, she'd have nothing at all.

RE: Amile Jefferson adds fuel to Duke vs. NC State

No Contest....NC State all day long next year. It is there time to beat both Duke and UNC in Basketball in a season. NC State was preseasoned ranked in top 10 without Jefferson. We will be fine. Preseasoned ranked in Football and Basketball (and I am sure baseball) for next year - What a great time to be a Wolfpack fan!!! GO PACK!!
- Posted by peyton1717

They haven't played any of the games of which ye speak yet.
- Posted by Hammerhead

and yet the future hasn't looked this bright in years.

facts-r-facts!
- Posted by WolfpackindahouseV.4

OK, but I usually base my opinions on actual games and outcomes, not preseason rankings.

RE: Amile Jefferson adds fuel to Duke vs. NC State

Can someone please enlighten me to the fire that is going on between NC State basketball and any other program? The only fire is in the minds of the delusional fan base known as NC State. Tell me exactly what it is that makes you so great - a sweet 16 visit? Your gianormous victory against San Diego State and GTown..both of who were playing .500 ball going into the NCAA tourney.... I will post this again..and will continue to do so until such time as NC State actually DOES something...it says it better than anything I have run across...

Dear NC State fans...
TheUltimateLord All-American
4836 posts this site
Ignore this Member
Send Private Message
Posted: Today 8:41 AM

Dear NC State fans...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meet me at camera 3...

Listen. We are happy for you. Really. Ask ANY Duke fan if they want State to be a good third team in the area, to help make NC basketball the best area of basketball in the world, and they will say yes. We liked Herb Sendak, we liked the Cool Aid guy, and we honestly welcome the help in representing the ACC nationally. Plus, of course, we hate UNC too.

That said...
Please... PLEASE don't start swarming out of the woodwork now that you've had one decent team in god KNOWS how many years and start talking trash. Don't start flooding our boards with your Pack Pride CRAZYTIME and start lecturing Duke fans about anything related to basketball. Not recruiting. Not results. Not coaching. Not legacies. Nothing. You guys have been so, so, SO bad for so many years... wait until you have a few years of sustained, top level success please before you start thumping your chests and acting like you belong in our conversation. You don't. Not yet. Not for a number of years. So thank you in advance. We are all happy for you, we are happy for State, and we are happy that you guys seem to be ascending. But please, keep some perspective and don't let your innermost Pack mentality come out. Last edited Today 8:54 AM by TheUltimateLord
- Posted by sportznut628

The only thing proven by re-posting the same lame web "letter" over and over again is that you have nothing original to contribute of your own. Or are you actually TheUltimateDouche who wrote the garbage you keep posting?

Oh, and we Pack fans will thump our chests and talk sh!t how ever the f*ck much we want to. Just because some crybaby Dukie or Tarhole thinks we shouldn't is all the more reason to do it.
- Posted by The Gooch

That is his whole point Bovine, you thump your chest for no reason....like a Gorilla

RE: Amile Jefferson adds fuel to Duke vs. NC State

Can someone please enlighten me to the fire that is going on between NC State basketball and any other program? The only fire is in the minds of the delusional fan base known as NC State. Tell me exactly what it is that makes you so great - a sweet 16 visit? Your gianormous victory against San Diego State and GTown..both of who were playing .500 ball going into the NCAA tourney.... I will post this again..and will continue to do so until such time as NC State actually DOES something...it says it better than anything I have run across...

Dear NC State fans...
TheUltimateLord All-American
4836 posts this site
Ignore this Member
Send Private Message
Posted: Today 8:41 AM

Dear NC State fans...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meet me at camera 3...

Listen. We are happy for you. Really. Ask ANY Duke fan if they want State to be a good third team in the area, to help make NC basketball the best area of basketball in the world, and they will say yes. We liked Herb Sendak, we liked the Cool Aid guy, and we honestly welcome the help in representing the ACC nationally. Plus, of course, we hate UNC too.

That said...
Please... PLEASE don't start swarming out of the woodwork now that you've had one decent team in god KNOWS how many years and start talking trash. Don't start flooding our boards with your Pack Pride CRAZYTIME and start lecturing Duke fans about anything related to basketball. Not recruiting. Not results. Not coaching. Not legacies. Nothing. You guys have been so, so, SO bad for so many years... wait until you have a few years of sustained, top level success please before you start thumping your chests and acting like you belong in our conversation. You don't. Not yet. Not for a number of years. So thank you in advance. We are all happy for you, we are happy for State, and we are happy that you guys seem to be ascending. But please, keep some perspective and don't let your innermost Pack mentality come out. Last edited Today 8:54 AM by TheUltimateLord
- Posted by sportznut628

The only thing proven by re-posting the same lame web "letter" over and over again is that you have nothing original to contribute of your own. Or are you actually TheUltimateDouche who wrote the garbage you keep posting?

Oh, and we Pack fans will thump our chests and talk sh!t how ever the f*ck much we want to. Just because some crybaby Dukie or Tarhole thinks we shouldn't is all the more reason to do it.

View All Comments

WRAL Sports Fan

Jeff Gravley