By ANDREW JONES
FOXSportsSouth.com
December 20, 2010
DURHAM, N.C. - Casey Peters has played just 19 game minutes of basketball in two seasons for the Duke Blue Devils and has yet to attempt a shot. But when he graduates in the spring, he will leave behind a unique legacy unmatched by the parade of All-Americans who have called Cameron Indoor Stadium home.
Legendary status doesn't accompany Peters in his daily trek through life, and he may not be remembered by most Duke fans beyond this season. But, in many respects, his story is more interesting than those experienced by Grant Hill, Christian Laettner, Shane Battier, Kyle Singler and the other stars of Duke lore.
His is a true Duke basketball tale, and it sheds light on the characteristics of the DNA that permeates this program: determination, passion, spirit, focus and selflessness.
The Red Bank, N.J., native is a 6-foot-4 senior guard for the top-ranked and reigning national champion Blue Devils (11-0). You likely haven't heard of him, even though he's on scholarship. That's okay, because Peters is living a dream and leaving a mark on one of the greatest programs in college basketball.
"Casey's story is a great one," senior guard Nolan Smith said. "It's inspiring; he inspires us."
A student manager for the basketball team as a freshman and sophomore, Peters made the transition to player last season. In the spring, he was awarded a scholarship for this, his final year in Durham. He now holds the distinction as the only player at Duke ever to go essentially from water boy to the layup line.
"He's making a lot of money. His dad and mom better give him a good graduation present," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski joked, alluding to the value of a Duke education, before getting serious. "Casey is an amazingly hard worker and is a good player. He's a heck of a competitor and does a great job for us."
Competitor might be the best way to describe Peters.
When Peters was a senior in high school and weighing his college basketball options, which included offers from small Division I schools, his mother suggested he try her alma mater, Duke. An all-conference prep player, whose father broke Lou Gehrig's single-season RBI record at Columbia, the confident Peters decided he could walk on for the fabled Devils.
It didn't work out his first two years, even though the Duke staff said he'd have a chance to make the roster as a walk-on. But his dream never died and eventually came to fruition.
"One of the first memories I had was we were taking our pictures early on in the fall last year, walking in the locker room and the first time I saw my jersey hanging up in my locker," Peters recalled. "I'm a pretty emotional guy, and when I first found out from (associate head) coach (Chris) Collins, I cried, and when I saw that jersey it renewed my sense of joy and happiness."
Among the adjustments, Peters had to transition from getting players towels, water and whatever else was requested to finding a way to fit in as one of them.
His teammates knew he could play and eventually embraced him. It didn't hurt that one of his best friends was Singler, an All-American, who this past spring was named the most outstanding player at the Final Four.
In fact, Singler credits Peters for some of his success, as the pair constantly works together, usually on Singler's game. Peters knows his role is to make the other Blue Devils better in any way he can, and Singler takes full advantage of Peters' responsibility.
"Casey's always around for that work that we want to put in," the 6-8 senior said. "And since he's my roommate, he's the one that I usually bring with me to the gym. He's always around, and it's good to have someone on the team that is willing to do that sort of work."
Unglamorous labor isn't new to Peters. That's part of serving as a student manager at Duke. Yet, some 140 students apply for an open position each year.
The benefits are obvious, including an eventual letter of recommendation from Krzyzewski that certainly won't hurt future employment chances and being a part of a successful machine to draw from when entering the workforce.
And it's not an easy job.
"As a manager, you do an incredible amount, and on the road it's even more," Peters said. "As a player, there's not much down time, you're thinking about the game more. But as a manager, you're going into the late night hours. I think the biggest difference is that as a player, I sleep more on the road."
Peters admits his journey hasn't been an easy one, and at times has been speckled with doubt. While he thought of himself as a Duke player, he was no closer to suiting up and leaning over in a huddle during timeouts listening to the Hall of Fame coach than one of the zany students camping out for months for Duke vs. North Carolina tickets.
In fact, Peters doesn't recall hearing any of Krzyzewski's timeout talks to the players because he was too busy. That's OK now.
"Looking back now, I really can say I wouldn't have wanted it to go any other way because of the experience," Peters said. "I had to work even harder than I ever have before. And from the whole perspective, I got to see the manager's end of it, and it makes you appreciate everything."
Peters thinks he might eventually get into coaching, and experiencing the depths of a winning program's operation should serve him well. Of course, as an economic and environmental science major who scored a perfect 800 in math on his SAT, Peters may opt "for something in investment banking."
For now, he will continue grinding to help the Blue Devils win a fifth national championship for their legendary coach and soak in the closing months of an amazing college experience that now also includes his younger sister, Haley, playing on the Duke women's team. The Peters are the first brother-sister hoops tandem at Duke.
In time, Peters will reflect, though. He's looking forward to it.
"While you're involved during the season, you don't really step back and say, 'Wow, I really do have a legacy that I'm leaving on Duke basketball, something as a kid that I watched and revered,'" he said. "But there are some things that I've done that no one else has done. And having Haley here with me and us being the first brother-sister tandem means a lot to me."
As well it should.
Andrew Jones is in his 15th season covering the ACC.
