Chalk up another recruiting victory for Coach Krzyzewski.
Duke received a verbal commitment Monday afternoon from Greg Paulus, its floor general of the future.
"I am happy to announce that I have verbally committed to accept a basketball scholarship to Duke University," the 6-foot-1, 180-pound point guard announced at a noon press conference held at his high school, the Christian Brothers Academy.
The announcement ends weeks of speculation by recruiting analysts, many of whom had been anticipating Paulus' decision this summer.
"[Greg decided] after he came back from his visit at Notre Dame," Greg's father Dave told The Chronicle Monday afternoon. "He stepped back and reflected on everything, and he felt that [Duke] was the best fit for him."
The Manlius, N.Y., native was expected to choose between Duke, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Syracuse and Xavier. He had received over 50 scholarship offers to play basketball and football from the elite programs in each sport (Miami, Florida, Florida State and Notre Dame all offered football scholarships).
Despite the heavy interest, Paulus decided that Duke's trinity of academics, athletics and tradition were too much for any other school to overcome.
"I believe that [Duke] is the right place for me," Paulus said.
"They offered me great academic opportunities as well as a chance to compete at the highest level athletically. Duke has a tradition of basketball excellence which will help me grow into a better person and player."
Equally excited about the commitment, Dave Paulus was clearly pleased with his son's decision.
"Number one, it's a great academic institution," his father said.
"Number two, [Duke has] a great basketball tradition that is going to allow him to compete at the highest level. Number three, he gets an opportunity to play for one of the greatest coaches of all time and will help get his game to the next level. Number four, [Greg has] got a great opportunity to step in and be in a position to lead a team and compete for an NCAA championship every year...."
"[There are] a lot of other intangibles: environment, people, in his heart he felt that [Duke] was the best place for him," Dave Paulus said.
Football may also still be a possibility for the talented point guard who, according to ESPN.com, is the top quarterback prospect in the class of 2005. Although he is just a junior, Paulus has already broken the New York state passing touchdown record. According to the Syracuse Post-Standard, Krzyzewski gave Paulus the green light to continue playing football at Christian Brothers Academy.
"I asked (the Duke coaches) and they said 'Enjoy it. Have as much fun in high school as you can and win a state championship," Paulus said.
Although Paulus' father confirmed that he had met with Duke football coach Carl Franks, it remains to be seen whether or not Paulus will suit up for the Duke football team.
"He's also left the door open for football depending on the situations, and how things unfold," Dave Paulus said. "That's still undecided how that will happen."
Paulus will enroll at Duke in the fall of 2005, making him the Blue Devil's first commitment in the class. He will join an elite fraternity of Duke point guards that reads like a who's who of college basketball. In the Coach K era alone, Duke's point guards have produced three national championships, three Division I head coaches, two retired jerseys, and the NCAA career assists record. Living up to those legacies will be difficult, but a healthy crop of McDonald's All-Americans will be there to surround Paulus.
"He's going to have great teammates down there, great coaching, and he'll be part of a terrific basketball team," Dave Paulus said.
"We're really looking forward to the next six years."
Duke's newest point guard reflected similar excitement about his decision.
"I think playing for Coach K will be an honor," Paulus said. "I'm looking forward to an amazing ride with Coach K at Duke."
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