By Joseph Staszewski
Sierra Calhoun’s image of her college career fit perfectly with what Duke Coach Joanne P. McCallie’s program had to offer.
Calhoun’s relationship with McCallie and a chance to play in the ACC in the same backcourt with rising junior point guard Alexis Jones helped make Duke the desired destination for the Christ the King rising senior guard.
Calhoun verbally committed last week to playing women’s basketball for the Blue Devils. She picked them over UConn and Notre Dame to become the first Royals player to head to Durham since Carrem Gay in 2005.
“That was the place I wanted to be,” the 6-foot Calhoun said. “Her vision for me is being an impact freshman as soon as I step on the campus at Duke.”
She is the No. 10 ranked prospect in the country by ESPN and No. 1 at the wing position. Calhoun, who plays her travel ball with the New York Gauchos, joins a Duke team that lost to eventual national champion Connecticut in the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament last season and has been to two national title games since 1999. CK Coach Bob Mackey believes the Blue Devils’ up-tempo style of play and guard-oriented attack will benefit Calhoun.
“Everyone is going to handle the ball,” he said. “You are going to see Sierra pushing it up from the wing. It’s going to be a group effort, but I think she is going to be in a great situation.”
The Blue Devils have become one of the premier women’s basketball programs in the country and Duke is a renowned academic school, but it has yet to win a women’s hoops national championship. Calhoun believes Duke is closing in on that goal as she joins two Top 100 recruits in Azura Stephens and Erin Mathies in her recruiting class.
“I feel like what Coach P. and what that coaching staff is putting together is knocking on the doorstep of greatness,” Calhoun said. “I feel like it is only a matter of time before we win a national championship.”
The Brooklyn native averaged 22 points and seven rebounds for the Royals last season and was an All-Queens first team selection by TimesLedger Newspapers. She is the brother of Omar Calhoun, rising sophomore on the UConn men’s basketball team, but has said she would ultimately make the decision on what’s best for her.
Mackey sees a renewed energy in her, but said she needs to get better finishing with contact in the lane and be more selective shooting when the situation calls for it. Still, Duke is getting a player who can make an impact.
“I think she is going to be well-prepared for what she is going to face in Durham,” Mackey said.
Calhoun is excited to join the expanding ACC conference, which added Top 25 teams in Syracuse and Notre Dame. She got to experience it firsthand when she attended a Duke vs. North Carolina game in March. She is looking forward to playing there herself.
“It was a great atmosphere,” Calhoun said. “Cameron Indoor is just a phenomenal place to play at and to be in. Duke is just a great place to be at.”
