Nearly a year after losing LeBron James to “The Decision,” the Cleveland Cavaliers got a major boost Tuesday night when they won the No. 1 pick in the June 23 NBA Draft.

The Cavs will likely choose between Duke freshman point guard Kyrie Irving and Arizona sophomore forward Derrick Williams.

“I have no idea where I’m going to end up at but where ever I go I will be grateful for the opportunity to play in the NBA!” Tweeted Irving, the West Orange, N.J. native who spent one injury-plagued season at Duke. (more…)

Kyrie Irving will enter the 2011 NBA Draft with plans to hire an agent, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski announced Wednesday.

DraftExpress.com projects the 6-foot-2 West Orange, N.J. native as the No. 1 overall pick in the June 23 draft in Newark.

One veteran NBA scout, however, told SNY.tv he would choose Arizona’s Derrick Williams with the No. 1 pick.

“Our whole program is overjoyed with having Kyrie here for one year and that he has the chance now to pursue a dream of being a high draft pick and a great player in the NBA,” Krzyzewski said in a statement. (more…)

NEWARK – Kyrie Irving and Dexter Strickland played only half a season together at Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick High School.

Yet in their short time together on the court, they made a historic impact.

The duo led the Celtics to the New Jersey Tournament of Champions title in 2009, the school’s third in four years under head coach Kevin Boyle.

Strickland, a natural shooting guard, then went off to North Carolina to play point guard. (more…)

Kyrie Irving will come off the bench and see “significant minutes” Thursday night when Duke meets Arizona in a West Regional semifinal, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said Tuesday.

After missing 3 1/2 months with a right big toe injury suffered Dec. 4 against Butler, Irving came off the bench to score a team-best 14 points when Duke routed Hampton, 87-45, last Friday. The former Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick star then hit a critical late basket and scored 11 points in 21 minutes in Sunday’s win over MIchigan.

“We’re good with who we’re starting,” Krzyzewski said, according to the Charlotte Observer. “We should have at least eight people feel like they’re starters on this team, with Andre [Dawkins] and Ryan [Kelly]. We’ve had nine people start on this team, so that’s an advantage. (more…)

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- If Duke wasn’t the favorite to win back-to-back NCAA championships before the Big Dance began, they should be now.

That’s because freshman guard Kyrie Irving made his triumphant return Friday, scoring 14 points and dishing four assists as No. 1 Duke routed No. 16 Hampton, 87-45, in a second-round West Regional game in Charlotte, N.C.

“I haven’t played in three months, so this game was really nerve-racking,” Irving said. “But once I got the butterflies out, I started to play really well.” (more…)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said Kyrie Irving will play Friday in the Blue Devils’ NCAA tournament opener against Hampton in Charlotte, N.C.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Krzyzewski said Irving will not start and will play “limited minutes” when the No. 1 seeded Blue Devils meet the 16th-seeded Pirates.

The West Orange, N.J. native has been out since Dec. 4 with an injured big toe on his right foot.

Irving said he’s 95 percent healthy and “the other 5 percent will come when I actually play out there.” (more…)

Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski acknowledged Tuesday that Kyrie Irving may return to the Blue Devils during the NCAA Tournament.

“There is a chance Kyrie will play,” Coach K said, according to a Tweet from the Duke Chronicle.

Irving’s return would definitely bolster Duke’s chances of repeating as NCAA champions. Though just a freshman, he is arguably their best player and will likely be among the top several picks in June’s NBA Draft.

Irving, a West Orange, N.J. native, has been out since he injured his right big toe Dec. 4 against Butler.

“There’s a possibility of it happening,” Irving said Sunday after Duke’s 75-58 win over North Carolina in the ACC Tournament championship, according to The Herald Sun. “I’m not sure. I can’t put a percentage on it, but we’ll see.” (more…)

Duke freshman point guard Kyrie Irving is now out of his walking boot for good, but it remains unclear if he’ll play again this season.

Irving tweeted on Friday: “I’m now retiring my walking boot officially…back to regular sneakers lol…feels good!!!”

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said the West Orange, N.J. native has been cleared for “a few basketball-related activities” as he recovers from the toe injury suffered Dec. 4 against Butler at the Izod Center. (more…)

The trash talk was flowing fast and furious at last year’s McDonald’s All-American Game.

Surrounded by three future North Carolina Tar Heels, Kyrie Irving grabbed the microphone and put things in perspective.

“First and foremost, UNC is in the NIT,” the Duke-bound Irving told DraftExpress.com as Harrison Barnes, Kendall Marshall and Reggie Bullock sat next to him.

“And second of all, we are in the Final Four. We are in the Final four. We are in the Final Four.” (more…)

NEW YORK –During St. John’s stunning 93-78 upset of No. 3 Duke Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden, a group of little boys in St. John’s jerseys tried to get Kyrie Irving’s attention by shouting his name toward the Duke bench.

Irving didn’t acknowledge them and remains glued to the bench for the foreseeable future because of the toe injury suffered Dec. 4 against Butler.

“We’re not looking for him to come back, we’re looking for him to get well,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. (more…)