CAMPUS HARD COURT Circa 1997...What ever happened to COACH K's AMAZING 1997 Haul of the KILLER B's...BATTIER, BRAND, and BURGESS..all 1997 QUARTER Pounders and all Top 5 in the US

The Haul that was Heard and Seen around the U.S. for the Duke University Blue Devils in 1997. Coach K would probably have to admit he had out did himself in 1997.

The Blue Devils get 3 of the Top Rated 5 Seniors in America in 1997 with Shane Battier (Beverly Hills, Michigan Country Day HS), Chris Burgess (Woodbridge, California HS), and Elton Brand (Peekskill, NY HS). Not to mention William Avery a Point Guard from South Carolina.

Duke was fabulous that Freshman Year from 1997-98 and all these Freshman played Integral Parts in Duke's Run all the Way to the 1998 Regional Championship where they lost to the Kentucky Wildcats and Lead Man Tubby Smith and Sweet-Shooting Jeff Sheppard of Peachtree City, Georgia.

In 1999 in Tampa, Florida thats the Year Brand dominated and the Dukies eventually lost to Jim Calhoun, Khalid El-Amin, and the Rip Hamilton led UConn Huskies....Stop, Drop, Shut' em Down and Open Shop...that UConn Team (reciting the 90s Popular Rap Group Ruff Ryders') that would say that in the Tunnel before every game. Duke Sophomore Chris Burgess transferred to Utah before the 1999-2000 Season.

Brand ended up being the #1 Overall Pick in the Logo joining AAU Teammate (Long Island Panthers NY AAU) and Best Friend Metta World Peace formerly known as Ron Artest on the Chicago Bulls that Season.

The Aforementioned Burgess never got his Career back on Track at Utah after transferring out his Sophomore Year. Battier was lone Player in the Class of '97 that stayed all 4 Years and Dominated the ACC while doing.

VITALS

Elton Brand (1997-99 Duke)
#1 Overall Pick 1999 NBA Draft
NBA Co-Rookie of the Year 2000
2x All-Star 2002, 2006
All NBA 2nd Team 2006

Chris Burgess (1997-99 Duke) (1999-2001 Utah)
A Couple NBA Tryouts

Shane Battier (1997-2001 Duke)
National Champ 2001
John R. Wooden Award 2001
Naismith College Player of the Year 2001
1st Team All-American 2001
#6 Overall Pick 2001 NBA Draft
2x All NBA Defense 2008-2009

Coach K won a Chip with this Class as Brand and Burgess along with Will Avery were long gone. Shane Battier cashed it in for the Dukies Class of '97 to give Coach K his 3rd National Title. I know for a Fact that all of Duke Nation was thinking when Coach K hauled in his Class of 1997...Brand, Burgess, and Battier along with Will Avery they were thinking Multiple Chips but they did get 1.

Note: Vitals From NBA.com/Basketball-Reference.com