Dick Vitale: “So Untrue” That Duke Won’t Recruit “Urban Kids”

by Glenn Davis | 1:20 pm, March 13th, 2011

As you are probably aware if you read this site, last week NBA analyst/Fab Five member Jalen Rose said that, during his college days, he “hated Duke,” as he “felt like they only recruited black players that were Uncle Toms.”

As you can imagine, these remarks (though again, they describe the mindset that Rose had back when he was 18) created a bit of a stir. To be fair, Rose’s explanation of his current stance on Duke was still slightly provocative, though not nearly as much so:

“[Duke] recruits black players from polished families, accomplished families. And that’s fine. That’s okay. But when you’re an inner-city kid playing in a public school league, you know that certain schools aren’t going to recruit you. That’s one. And I’m okay with it.”

Well, Dick Vitale apparently heard Rose’s comments, and briefly addressed them during yesterday’s ACC semifinal between Duke and Virginia Tech. And we know this might be hard for you to believe…but Dickie V came to Duke’s defense.

“I heard Jalen Rose talk about the fact that…Duke would not recruit him, he said because they go for a certain perception of kids…from a different environment. That’s so untrue.”

Dickie V cited Corey Maggette and William Avery as “urban” prospects Duke recruited (and landed), and also noted that they tried to recruit Rose’s college teammate Chris Webber as well. This, however, doesn’t help argue Rose’s point, since Webber went to a private high school.

Video of Vitale’s comments below, via ESPN – his remarks on Rose begin at about the 40-second mark.

Photo via

letsgetrealaboutrace

out of hundreds of players i hear only about 4 names from duke fans. IT IS TRUE. STOP BEING BLIND.
dick is a joke.
blackpeoplesuck

yea dick vital

WHITE POWER
blackpeoplesuck

yea dick vital

WHITE POWER
Anonymous

Dick Vitale has always stuck up for Duke and is bias in his opinion, as well as his play by play when he is doing their games. The truth is the truth and Jalen, like it or not, Is absolutley correct in his assesment.
Flip

Dickie V is actually making Jalen’s point. When he names a whopping 2 players from a team 12 years ago.

But they did have Sean Dockery who was from inner city Chicago also and Chris Carrawell who was from Saint Louis. I think Coach K is a great coach. He turns great players into great men. Jalen’s point today is that why doesnt he take chances on more inner city kids so he can turn them into great men also. However, with Duke’s success its not a necessity for him I guess.
TruthBeSpoken

@ flip…you said Duke recruited Chris Carawell from Saint Louis,MO. Again, like the poster who commented on Duke taking a look at a Cris Webber, Chris Carawell went to a private school as well (Cardinal Ritter College Prep.). So again, Jalens point stands true, “privilleged families” are the focus of Duke’s recruitments esp. of black players. PERIOD.
Deckdownunder

the point isn’t whether or not duke recruits urban kids……the problem with Rose’s comments is that he called black kids that go there uncle toms.
Jay200

Corey Magette went to Fenwick High School a Catholic League High School in Oak Park IL. Hardly a inner city school in Chicago
Freddy

Yea that was completely uncalled for cause you can’t call them an uncle tom because they go to a specific school, but it was when he was young so i’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Freddy

As a black man who is also a duke fan , it is true that Duke only recruits priviledged black kids… but personally as a fan of duke basketball, I dont care…. jalens point is true .. dick’s point wasn’t much of an argument.. i think they should recruit inner city kids but at the end of the day if they dont recruit inner city kids i’m gonna stay a duke fan
Freddy

and im not a rich black kid