Nation's top frosh ready to dunk foes

Being the new kid on the block can be tough, but with the right attitude, the transition can be silky smooth. Brittany Hunter, entering Duke after being named the consensus High School National Player of the Year, is learning more about the game and improving with her freshman teammate Alison Bales at each Blue Devil practice.

"I think we've avoided a lot of the hype," Hunter said. "At home everyone always said 'Oh your freshman year is going to be terrible, you're going to be struggling.' I think we're doing pretty good. We're keeping up."

Hunter did a lot more than keep up in high school. In addition to leading Brookhaven, her Columbus, Ohio high school, to district and regional championships in 2003, Hunter averaged 23.5 points, 17.6 rebounds and six blocked shots per game. And, at 6-foot-3, she was the first woman to compete in the McDonald's slam dunk competition.

Hunter has quite an impressive basketball resume, but college hoops is not just a one-player game. She will have to get adjusted to playing a specific role on the Duke basketball squad, an idea that would not have fit into Brookhaven's strategy.

Beard can help Hunter deal with the pressures of college basketball, but learning how to maneuver around the low blocks is not necessarily the senior's forte. Hunter is versatile enough to play on the wing, but with her leaping ability and strength she is also able to dominate in the paint. Mistie Bass , Duke's other center, and forward Iciss Tillis will certainly welcome Hunter's abilities as a frontcourt player.

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"In the past, I've kind of had to carry the load in the post," Tillis said. "And now we have Brittany, who's tremendous in the post."

In the Blue Devils' quest for a national championship, Hunter certainly has the capabilities to play an integral role on the team. If her transition to college basketball is nearly as smooth as Beard's, then Duke will be a force to be reckon with in late March.