June 24, 2004

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Luol Deng and Chris Duhon became the 34th and 35th players, respectively, selected in the NBA draft under head coach Mike Krzyzewski when they were taken in the 48th version of the event Thursday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Ironically, they will both end up playing in Krzyzewski's home town of Chicago.

Deng was selected with the seventh overall pick by the Phoenix Suns while Duhon was the 38th pick by Chicago Bulls. While Deng was officially selected by the Suns, he was traded to the Bulls for the 31st selection in the draft (Jackson Vroman), cash and a future first round pick just before Duhon again became his teammate.

Deng became the 12th Duke player to be selected with a lottery pick, more than any other school in the nation since the system was put into place in 1985. He also became the fourth Top 10 pick from Duke since 2001 and 25th overall first round pick in Duke history. Since 1989, Duke and Arizona are tied with the most draft choices taken at 24 apiece.

Chris Duhon

Duhon, an All-America honoree by the Wooden and Rupp Awards and first team All-ACC selection, averaged 10.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.2 steals per game in 2003-04, a year in which he led Duke to the Final Four in San Antonio. The only player in ACC history to register 1,000 points, 475 rebounds, 800 assists and 300 steals, Duhon won 123 games in the Blue Devils' lineup, more victories than all but one player in ACC history.

As a freshman in 2003-04, Deng was Duke's second-leading scorer (15.1) and rebounder (6.9). He became just the 10th freshman in ACC history to lead league rookies in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage (.475). A Freshman All-America selection by The Sporting News and Basketball Times, he was named the Most Outstanding Player after leading the Blue Devils to the Atlanta Regional championship to earn a trip to the Final Four. Deng was named ACC Rookie of the Week six times in 2003-04, tying for the second-most freshman honors total in league history.

Shaun Livingston, who signed a letter of intent with Duke last year, was selected with the fourth overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers. Livingston is not counted in the above numbers.

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