Shooting guard Andre Dawkins, a highly-ranked 2010 basketball recruit, signed his acceptance letter to Duke on Tuesday and will play for the Blue Devils this season, his father said this morning.
Dawkins, who attended Atlantic Shores Christian School (Virginia Beach, Va.), would have been a high school senior this fall. But he only needed one more course – English 12 – to graduate, and he passed his online final on Monday.
His family plans to hold a graduation party today, where he will receive his diploma. He will move into the Duke dorms on Tuesday.
Because Dawkins had already attended four years of high school – he went to one year of public high school before he transferred to Atlantic Shores and was re-classified as a freshman – his family started pondering a year ago whether he should go to college a year early. Once Duke guard Elliot Williams opted to transfer, leaving the Blue Devils thin on the perimeter, the family approached Duke's coaches about what it would take for Dawkins to enroll at Duke for this season.
"It’s been a whirlwind," said Dawkins' father, who is also named Andre. "But he studied hard, and worked hard to pass his course. And we're all very excited."
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at 
Comments
Ha
Sat, 08/15/2009 - 01:17 — Heels20This makes it so Dook isn't the BIGGEST bunch of losers. At least Dawkins offers some characteristics of modern day basketball. It was looking like we were going to see Kyle "the Herb Sendek dream" Singler and John "what kind of face is that" Scheyer leading Dook to no accomplishments other than the nerdiest basketball team in ACC history.
Next
Sun, 08/16/2009 - 07:32 — heelsno1Sounds like this young man is bright and capable...just right for another version of Special K's floor-slapping floppers!
Could he be that bright light that can help the Dookies reverse the trend of 4 straight losses against the Heels in Cameron?
Maybe some day.
Sun, 08/16/2009 - 09:17 — JPDOhioBut it sure seems like an awful lot is being expected of this kid. He looks like a good one all the way around, but he will still be a freshman in the best conference in college hoops. So I doubt he is going to save the day, at least not this year.
MP3
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 22:32 — amankdaheenGreat news.
__________________
MP3
A class Act
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 19:59 — coby70This is great news for All of us Duke Fans, somebody is coming, rather than somebody is leaving. An exceptional young man, an excellent player, check out His vidios, this Kid can play and He is smart. Thanks to His Mom and Dad for sharing their son with Duke. Go Duke!!!!
Thanks for sharing
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 14:45 — dangarbusaThanks for sharing...getting lough..
abortion support
Good Job
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 12:26 — Janecampbell48I'm excited to see where he will take the team this year, that is, if he isn't a benching freshman. Hah.
”>Party
Desperation
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 08:48 — festerI'm laughing at you Coach K. I know it's hard being desperate.
That's "un-american"
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 12:49 — whitlow71That's "un-american"
Good for him.
Fri, 08/14/2009 - 08:39 — sidekick1Good for him.