“The Hardest Jersey to Retire in College Basketball?” — Inside Duke’s Legendary Rafters and Why Even Zion & Flagg May Never Hang There
At Duke, greatness is the standard — but immortality is earned. Only 13 players in Blue Devils history have had their jerseys lifted into the rafters of Cameron Indoor Stadium, and according to head coach Jon Scheyer, that number may not grow anytime soon. In an era of one-and-dones, transfer portal chaos, and early NBA exits, Duke’s jersey retirement standard remains the toughest in college hoops. “You need to win a National Player of the Year award… and graduate,” Scheyer emphasized. That elite bar may keep even generational talents like Zion Williamson and Cooper Flagg from reaching college basketball’s rarest air.
Of the hundreds of players who have put on a Duke basketball jersey during their career, only 13 of them have their numbers hanging from the rafters within Cameron Indoor Stadium.
While many players have gone on to achieve great things at Duke and beyond, there’s a reason why so few athletes have joined the Blue Devils’ exclusive club. There’s a specific criteria that’s almost impossible to meet in the current landscape of college athletics.
“I think it’s the most difficult place to get your number or your jersey retired, right? I mean, you have to be a some type of National Player of the Year Award winner or break — Bobby Hurley broke the all time assist record in the history of NCAA. And you have to graduate,” Scheyer said. “The reality of that happening in this day and age is slim to none.”
The 13 players who’s jerseys are retired include Dick Groat (#10, 1952), Mike Gminski (#43, 1980), Johnny Dawkins (#24, 1986), Danny Ferry (#35, 1989), Art Heyman (#25, 1990), Christian Laettner (#32, 1992), Bobby Hurley (#11, 1993), Grant Hill (#33, 1994), Jeff Mullins (#44, 1994), Shane Battier (#31, 2001), Jason Williams (#22, 2003). Over two decades separates the last time Duke has retired someone’s jersey.
In the years since, it has become more common to see the best players opt not to stay in college through graduation. Players who have NBA ceilings are leaving after one season, and the transfer portal has caused a four-year tenure at one school to become even less common.
“For us, I think it’s something we have to continue to evaluate, continue to look at where you don’t take away how special it is because some of these names with the guys that are out there, you want to make that a special thing,” Scheyer continued. “But at the same time, give somebody an opportunity.”
Scheyer noted that perhaps players who win consensus player of the year awards, like Cooper Flagg and Zion Williamson who only needed one year to accomplish some of the highest feats the sport has to offer. He shouted out Elton Brand as well, who spent two seasons in Durham in the late 1990s.
