Basketball: Atlantic Shores guard may head for Duke early

Andre Dawkins started hearing rumors about his son early Wednesday afternoon.

The news was that his son, also named Andre, was going to forgo his senior season at Atlantic Shores to play for Duke.

He even saw the news scrolling across ESPN.

“I don’t know where people got it from,” he said. “And once it got out, I started getting calls and text messages about it.”

Dawkins said the reports are “a bit premature,” but he confirmed the family is considering the possibility after viewing class credits and the NCAA Clearinghouse.

His son played his first year of high school basketball at Deep Creek, then played three seasons at Atlantic Shores, where he was named to the All-Tidewater team twice.

“As a result of the course work he’s taken and his success on the college entrance exams, it’s possible he could enroll at Duke in the fall,” his father said. “It’s something we’re definitely looking at, but nothing has … been set in stone.”

The younger Dawkins, who is 6 foot 4, is one of the top players in the Class of 2010. ESPN ranks him as the No. 2 shooting guard in the country and the No. 10 overall prospect. Another recruiting site ranks him as the No. 3 shooting guard and as No. 22 overall.

Last season, he averaged 20.5 points to help lead the Seahawks to the Division II state private school final. The previous season, he was Metro Conference Player of the Year and the first player to make All-Tidewater from that conference since 1998.

His father said he thinks the rumors swirled after Duke freshman Elliot Williams transferred to Memphis to be closer to his sick mother. That left the Blue Devils thin in the backcourt.

The elder Dawkins said his son is taking it all in stride. “He’s been dealing with it pretty good since it came out,” his father said. “He’s a little bit nervous but excited. It’s a great opportunity for him. We feel like he’s ready academically, and physically, we feel he can compete.”

Dawkins, who said he and his son talk regularly to the Duke coaches, said the family hopes to decide in the coming weeks. Orientation is Aug. 18; school begins Aug. 19.

Dawkins’ phone wasn’t the only one ringing off the hook. Atlantic Shores coach Bruce Croxton said he has been bombarded. He admitted he’d love to see Dawkins return and lead the Seahawks to a state title, but he understands the circumstances.

“Obviously, we’re going to miss him,” he said. “But this is a great opportunity for him to get in there and establish himself. And I think he’ll play right away.”

Larry Rubama, (757) 446-2273, larry.rubama @pilotonline.com