Dec. 24, 2004

GoDuke.com sat down with freshman forward David McClure for a question and answer session. Below, McClure talks about high life in high school and his adjustment to the college game and what the recruiting process was like. The also lets everybody know some of his favories like ice cream, movie, and much more!

GoDuke.com: What did Trinity Catholic coach Mike Walsh teach you about basketball and life?
David McClure: He taught me that it was more about getting things done to help your team than about trying to help yourself or fill up a stat sheet. If you could put your team before yourself then you would be successful.

GD: Other than Cameron, what other ACC gym are you looking forward to playing in?
DM: Really all of them, it's the ACC and all the teams are going to be good this year, the conference is stacked this year and it's going to be great to get out and play those other teams.

GD: What was your impression of Coach K before you came to Duke, and now that you are here how has it changed?
DM: I always knew that he was the kind of guy that expects all you can give him, and since I have gotten here my relationship with him has grown. He's a great guy, a very competitive guy who is really excited about this season. My feelings towards him have not really changed, I know he is going to be expecting a lot of me and the other guys, and I think for us to win we are going to have to do everything he asks.

GD: What was the recruiting process like?
DM: It was exciting, but at the same time as soon as I knew I was ready to commit to Duke, I didn't want to keep them (Duke) waiting, so I called up Coach and told him for sure.

GD: Was it strange seeing him [Coach K] in the stands?
DM: The first time he was at the game it was a little strange, but fortunately it was a big game so I could not really concentrate on him, I had to focus on the game.

GD: Do you know who Mike Gminski is?
DM: Yeah, I have heard a lot about him, when I first committed to Duke all I ever heard was "First guy from Connecticut to commit to Duke since Mike Gminski".

GD: Tell me about the aura and mystique of Duke, is it everything you have watched on TV?
DM: Definitely this is Duke. They have probably been the best program over the past 10-15 years; they are a consistent basketball team and to be a part of that is bigger than any one person could fill. Playing for Duke makes you always want to give your best. If you look around everything you see just shouts victory.

GD: Are the two games in New York highlighted on your schedule, how many people are going to travel to see you play?
DM: Well all the games are highlighted on my schedule this year, but I am sure a lot of my close friends and all my old teachers who were really into my high school basketball team are going to be there. A lot of my friends from my hometown will be there. I'm definitely looking forward to it and the Garden is a great place to play but when Cameron is your home court you don't get much better than that.

GD: What do you see as your role on the 2004-05 team?
DM: Right now it will vary for each game. I know coach says he likes my versatility so each game it could really change, whatever he's going to ask me to do I'll be willing to do.

GD: Who was your biggest rival in high school?
DM: Well we probably had three big rivals in high school. We had Stanford High because they were in the City Championship game almost every year and almost every year even though we were ranked higher than them they always gave us a close game, so that was a good one. Warren Harding High School gave us a couple of good battles in our division and I'd say through the whole state I think either Colby Cathedral or Northwest Catholic. We normally saw one of those two teams in the final each year. And then players - there probably wasn't one player in my division but I think the biggest hype game of the year was when I played Geary Claxton who was going to Penn State to play. He was the big scorer and I was on the big team and we clashed and they said it was number one versus number two and everything like that and both of us kind of cancelled each other out of the game. I think we both ended up with about 9 points or something like that so, we didn't get defended well and our team won by thirty points.

GD: Any idea what you're going to major in?
DM: No not yet, I'm really kind of just feeling things out right now, trying to take a wide variety of classes to see what interests me. I'm sure by next year I'll have a good idea.

GD: What do you think your biggest strength on the court is?
DM: Probably just the ability to do more than one thing.

GD: And your biggest weakness?
DM: Probably right now it's strength. I'm trying to build up my strength but other than that I'm coming along and my shot is getting there.

GD: What was the first pair of basketball shoes that made you say to your parents please buy me those?
DM: Probably the Jordan 11 with the patent leather around the sole. I remember seeing him wear them a couple times and I wanted them and I saw them come out on Space Jam and I wanted them and I could get them until they came out when I was in high school but I knew as soon as I heard they were coming out I gave my dad the heads up to get them.

GD: Are you superstitious?
DM: I'm not overly superstitious but you get into certain little habits. Its more of a routine than a superstition.

GD: Do you have a nickname?
DM: Not really, not yet. I've heard a couple flying around from different guys but there isn't one that has stuck yet.

GD: What is one thing about you that hardly anyone knows?
DM: I like to sing.

GD: Who was your favorite teacher in high school?
DM: I had a really good English teacher that I had for my junior and senior year, Mr. Sutton and then my chemistry teacher when I was a sophomore, those guys were really good.

GD: Who is the wisest person you know?
DM: Probably my mother and my father.

GD: Who is your idol?
DM: That's a tough one. It used to be Michael Jordan but he hasn't played in a while. It's either my father or my good close friend Roger. He's like my cousin. They both remind me of him and I think that's why all three of us get along so well. He's in his early thirties and my father is older and I'm younger and we all seem to get along great, so probably one of those two.

GD: Are you homesick at all?
DM: I get homesick every now and then. Not for any long period of time. I probably get more homesick now cause I am away but when I get home I want to get right back away. Phone calls are easier.

GD: What's been the biggest adjustment to college life?
DM: Probably time management because with all the basketball and all the academic work needed to be done it's tough to keep everything in order. I think once I get that down it will be a lot easier.

GD: What word of advice did your parents give you when they dropped you off at school?
DM: Just to go at it with all I've got because four years goes quick and I can definitely attest to that because I remember it seems like yesterday when my dad and I were sitting in my high school gym when I was a freshmen and him saying it was going to go quick and it did, it went real quick. I remember sitting down and saying I wanted to get a State Championship banner before I left. We ended up getting three but it went real fast. I can't believe it went that fast, so just to take advantage of every second of these four years.

GD: What are your thoughts going into the official start of practice?
DM: Really I'm just open-minded. I sat in on maybe one practice before I got here but I just want to go in there and do what they ask me to do and try and get everything done. Not to anticipate it but to participate.

GD: And this being your first year and being the hundredth year of Duke basketball, what does that mean to you?
DM: It's a big responsibility I feel for us because it is the hundredth year and we have a lot to live up to. I think if we just listen to coach and get things done we could make this hundredth year a good one.

GD: What do you hope to accomplish this year and in your time at Duke?
DM: People come to Duke to get championships. We came here to win and we expect to win. So I guess just winning and get back on top of the ACC and eventually the country.

What is your favorite...