Amile Jefferson, a top recruit at power forward, chooses Duke

By Chuck Schilken

May 16, 2012, 7:55 a.m.

Amile Jefferson initially didn't have Duke on his short list of colleges to attend and almost signed early with another school. Likewise, the Blue Devils showed minimal interest in the highly coveted big man from Friends' Central School in Philadelphia.

That all changed during Jefferson's senior season, when Duke suddenly decided to offer the 6-foot-7, 190-pound power forward a scholarship and Coach Mike Krzyzewski took over the recruiting process.

"Once Coach K started recruiting me, I did not talk to an assistant coach," Jefferson said. "That definitely shows the coach wants you, and every conversation I had with him seemed genuine. I felt like I can become a better person and player at Duke University."

As unlikely as it may have seemed just a short time ago, Jefferson has signed his letter of intent to play with Duke in the fall, school officials announced Tuesday night.

"Duke is a once in a lifetime opportunity and something you don't pass up on," said Jefferson, who also considered playing for Kentucky, North Carolina State, Ohio State and Villanova.

Jefferson gives the Blue Devils' recruiting class a second McDonalds' All-American, along with Rasheed Sulaimon of Strake Jesuit in Houston. Krzyzewski called him “a perfect young man for Duke University.”

As a senior, Jefferson averaged 19.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.7 steals. He will join a Duke frontcourt that also includes seniors Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly.

Amile Jefferson signs with Duke; Arizona adds 3 transfers

School officials said Tuesday night that Jefferson signed his letter of intent to play for the Blue Devils this fall.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski says Jefferson is "a perfect young man for Duke University."
Jefferson is a 6-foot-7, 190-pound power forward who averaged 19.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.7 steals as a senior for Friends' Central School in Philadelphia. He was named a McDonald's All-America and was rated as one of the nation's top prep big men.
He joins a Duke frontcourt that returns seniors Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly.
Arizona adds three transfers to recruiting class
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona has added three transfers to its latest recruiting class.
The school announced Tuesday that guards Mark Lyons and T.J. McConnell, and forward Matt Korcheck signed to play for the school.
Lyons has one year of eligibility left after graduating from Xavier. He averaged 15.1 points and helped the Musketeers reach the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament.
Korcheck, a 6-foot-9 sophomore from Tucson, averaged 14.7 points and 6.5 rebounds for Cochise College in 2011-12. He will have two seasons of eligibility left.
McConnell will not be eligible to play next season after transferring from Duquesne, where he averaged 11.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.8 steals last season. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

Amile Jefferson signs with Duke; Arizona adds 3 transfers

School officials said Tuesday night that Jefferson signed his letter of intent to play for the Blue Devils this fall.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski says Jefferson is "a perfect young man for Duke University."
Jefferson is a 6-foot-7, 190-pound power forward who averaged 19.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.7 steals as a senior for Friends' Central School in Philadelphia. He was named a McDonald's All-America and was rated as one of the nation's top prep big men.
He joins a Duke frontcourt that returns seniors Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly.
Arizona adds three transfers to recruiting class
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona has added three transfers to its latest recruiting class.
The school announced Tuesday that guards Mark Lyons and T.J. McConnell, and forward Matt Korcheck signed to play for the school.
Lyons has one year of eligibility left after graduating from Xavier. He averaged 15.1 points and helped the Musketeers reach the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament.
Korcheck, a 6-foot-9 sophomore from Tucson, averaged 14.7 points and 6.5 rebounds for Cochise College in 2011-12. He will have two seasons of eligibility left.
McConnell will not be eligible to play next season after transferring from Duquesne, where he averaged 11.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.8 steals last season. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

Amile Jefferson signs with Duke; Arizona adds 3 transfers

School officials said Tuesday night that Jefferson signed his letter of intent to play for the Blue Devils this fall.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski says Jefferson is "a perfect young man for Duke University."
Jefferson is a 6-foot-7, 190-pound power forward who averaged 19.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.7 steals as a senior for Friends' Central School in Philadelphia. He was named a McDonald's All-America and was rated as one of the nation's top prep big men.
He joins a Duke frontcourt that returns seniors Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly.
Arizona adds three transfers to recruiting class
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona has added three transfers to its latest recruiting class.
The school announced Tuesday that guards Mark Lyons and T.J. McConnell, and forward Matt Korcheck signed to play for the school.
Lyons has one year of eligibility left after graduating from Xavier. He averaged 15.1 points and helped the Musketeers reach the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament.
Korcheck, a 6-foot-9 sophomore from Tucson, averaged 14.7 points and 6.5 rebounds for Cochise College in 2011-12. He will have two seasons of eligibility left.
McConnell will not be eligible to play next season after transferring from Duquesne, where he averaged 11.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.8 steals last season. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

Amile Jefferson signs with Duke; Arizona adds 3 transfers

School officials said Tuesday night that Jefferson signed his letter of intent to play for the Blue Devils this fall.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski says Jefferson is "a perfect young man for Duke University."
Jefferson is a 6-foot-7, 190-pound power forward who averaged 19.9 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.7 steals as a senior for Friends' Central School in Philadelphia. He was named a McDonald's All-America and was rated as one of the nation's top prep big men.
He joins a Duke frontcourt that returns seniors Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly.
Arizona adds three transfers to recruiting class
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona has added three transfers to its latest recruiting class.
The school announced Tuesday that guards Mark Lyons and T.J. McConnell, and forward Matt Korcheck signed to play for the school.
Lyons has one year of eligibility left after graduating from Xavier. He averaged 15.1 points and helped the Musketeers reach the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament.
Korcheck, a 6-foot-9 sophomore from Tucson, averaged 14.7 points and 6.5 rebounds for Cochise College in 2011-12. He will have two seasons of eligibility left.
McConnell will not be eligible to play next season after transferring from Duquesne, where he averaged 11.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.8 steals last season. He has two years of eligibility remaining.