Future looks bright for Deerfield basketball star Dukan
Sharpshooter set to play in Nike Hoop Summit in Portland
Duje Dukan, a 6-foot-8 sharpshooting senior wing on the Deerfield basketball team, has come a long way.
After moving from Croatia to Deerfield when he was 10 months old, he transformed himself from an unknown spot-up shooter at the beginning of his high school career to a versatile all-state player – good enough to earn a scholarship offer from the University of Wisconsin through relentless work in the gym.
Deerfield's Duje Dukan has been selected to play in the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland on Saturday. (Photo by Jon Durr.www.DurrPhotos.com)
In early March, Dukan was selected to participate on the World Select team in the Nike Hoop Summit scheduled for April 10 at the Rose Garden in Portland, OR. The game features the USA Basketball Men’s Junior Select team, comprised of 10 of the top-ranked high schoolers nationwide against some of the best 19-and-under players from around the world.
“At first, I was really happy, ecstatic, shocked – everything was running through my head,” Dukan said. “I was full of emotions, and all positive thoughts. Just being able to have the opportunity to be thought of as among the best in the world for my age is incredible. Having the opportunity to play on such a big stage like the Rose Garden is terrific. I couldn’t ask for a better situation.”
Past members of the World Select team include NBA all-stars Dirk Nowitki and Tony Parker. Several other current international NBA players are also alumni of the Hoop Summit, and current NBA All-Stars including Derrick Rose (2007), Kevin Durant (2006) and Kevin Garnett (1995) also competed in the game. Glenbrook North alum Jon Scheyer also played for the USA team in the 2006 game.
“To be honest, I don’t think it has sunk in yet,” Dukan said about the magnitude of the game. “I feel like it’s just another regular game. I think it will hit me when we get on the court in the Rose Garden and see thousands of people in the stands.
“The company I’m in definitely has hit me though,” he added. “Having such great NBA players who have played in this game, from Kevin Durant to K.G. to Dirk, just being able to be a guy who has played in this game is just a great point to be at and it’s very humbling.”
Deerfield head coach Bret Just saw Duje’s transformation first-hand as an assistant at Highland Park early in Dukan’s career and as his coach the past two seasons. He was equally excited when he learned Duje was picked to represent the world’s all-stars at the Hoop Summit.
“When I first got the invitation I literally almost fell of my chair with how incredible the honor was,” Just said. “When you look at some of the past participants in the game, you’re talking about NBA All-Stars and legends. You look at some of the guys in this year’s game, on the U.S. team or world team, and there are future lottery picks. To be mentioned and recognized in that kind of company should give Duje a tremendous amount of confidence as he gets ready to embark on his college career at Wisconsin.”
Dukan’s transformation on the court didn’t come over night. Over the years, Dukan has added a new wrinkle to his game as he continued to grow taller.
Deerfield's Duje Dukan reacts to a play this season. (Photo by Jon Durr/www. DurrPhotos.com)
“Fairly or unfairly, his freshman and sophomore year he was labeled as a spot-up, three-point shooter,” Just said. “Through his development physically as well as his work in the gym, he has become a versatile complete player. He can put it on the floor, shoot with range, post up, and he has just so many facets to his game. That’s all a credit to how hard he has worked. I think being asked to participate in this game is the final stamp and signature of that.”
Dukan, who’s father, Ivica, played professionally in Croatia, has participated in the sport for a long time, but has dedicated himself to always improving on the court.
“Thinking back on it now, I thought I had an opportunity to be a good player,” Dukan said. “I just didn’t know to what extent. I think that the amount of hard work I put in not only surprised myself, but the outcome surprised me as well. The more work that I put in is kind of what made me change from a good player that I thought I’d be to where I am now.”
During the offseason for high school basketball, Duje has been playing club basketball with Full Package since he was 12. Full Package founder and president Steve Pratt has worked with Dukan since that time and knew the youngster had a special love for the game.
“When he walked in the gym, the first thing I noticed from day one, was that the kid loves the game of basketball,” Pratt said. “The second thing that was very telling to me was that he had a natural touch on the ball. He shot with two hands, didn’t have very good form, but it went in – and it went in all the time. He just had a scorer’s touch. That’s just a gift.”
As the years progressed, and Dukan honed his skill, Pratt began to see a bright future for him on the hardwood. A couple of years ago at an AAU tournament in Bloomington, IN, Pratt was sold on Duje’s great potential as a 16-year-old.
“The first time I knew Duje had a shot to be a pro basketball player was in Indiana,” Pratt said. “We drove down and I had him play up with the 17s, and we played the SoCal All-Stars who had kids going to USC and UNC. We get out of the car, the game’s already started, and Duje goes to the bench. Nate Pomeday, who’s now at Oregon State, subs him into the game and he hits six threes in a row fresh out of a car! That was a big time game, and I said to his dad, ‘your son has a shot to be in the NBA.’
"He’s that kind of scorer. Where do 6-9 guys play who can shoot the heck out of it?”
Dukan had garnered little interest from Division 1 coaches prior to last March. But after some hard work in the gym expanding his game, the offers started to pile in after his performance on the spring and summer club circuit, competing in national tournaments in Las Vegas, Milwaukee and Chicago among other places.
“I wanted to work on his ball-handling,” Pratt said. “So all last Spring, he played point guard every day in the gym. He improved his ball handling and passing and all those things. Duje has become a much more complete player and it’s all because he works his butt off and loves the game.”
Dukan led Deerfield to its most successful season since 1997, averaging 23 points and 9.5 rebounds. As the team’s biggest player and best shooter, there were times where he played all five positions on the court. Just thinks that unique ability was a driving force behind being selected for the Hoop Summit.
“I think the multidimensional nature of his game allows him to fill a lot of different roles for the (world) team” Just said. “I would imagine that’s one of the reasons he was selected. He was really off the map a couple years ago for whatever reason. All of a sudden, through his work ethic, he has really put himself on the map.”
Before Dukan departed for Portland this past weekend for a week of practice leading up to the game, Just had some last-minute advice for him.
“I just told him to play with poise and composure all week long,” Just said. “I’m sure there will be moments where someone scores on him a few times in a row, but there will be other times when he’s able to do some things. I also told him to learn from the experience. This is as big a stage you can be on at this stage in your career, so enjoy it.”
The game will be televised nationally, in Chicago on Comcast Sports Net at 9p.m. Saturday. Having spent basically his entire life living in the United States, and cheering for Team USA in all the Olympics, adjusting to playing against the country he supports has been a different experience for Dukan.
“It’s a weird feeling,” Dukan said. “Being here supporting the U.S. basketball teams, the NBA, and everything, and now to be rooting against them and playing against them is weird. Especially because there are guys my age I’ve played against in AAU, but never thought I’d be playing them on a country-to-country basis. It’s a great opportunity. You can really play against the best and see where you are at. It prepares you for things that may lie ahead.”