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Walter Dukes
Walter F. Dukes (June 23, 1930 – March 13, 2001) was a center for the New York Knicks (1955–1956), Minneapolis Lakers (1956–1957) and Detroit Pistons (1957–1963). He played college basketball for the Seton Hall Pirates. He has held the NCAA Division I men's record for most rebounds in a season for over 70 years.
Dukes was born on June 23, 1930, in Youngstown, Ohio, but later lived in Rochester, New York. He attended public schools in Youngstown and Rochester, including East High School in Rochester where he played high school basketball. In 1948, Dukes moved to South Orange, New Jersey to attend Seton Hall Preparatory School (a college-preparatory school), and graduated with the class of 1949. He then attended Seton Hall University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree. He obtained a Masters of Business Administration degree from New York University, and then an LLB degree from New York Law School in 1960. He also attended The Sorbonne in France. As a college senior, Dukes stated it was more important for him to pursue a law degree than professional basketball, though he would do both if possible (akin to George Mikan).
Dukes was recruited to Seton Hall out of East High School by future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach John "Honey" Russell. He had earlier learned about Seton Hall from his East High freshman basketball coach, who was a Seton Hall alumnus; and from former Rochester Royals player Bob Davies, considered the greatest Seton Hall player before Dukes.
The 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) Dukes played center for three seasons on Seton Hall's basketball team (1950-53). As a sophomore (1950-51), he averaged 12.5 points and 16.1 rebounds per game. In his junior season, Dukes led all college players by averaging 19.7 rebounds per game. He also averaged 20.2 points per game. As a senior, Dukes averaged 22.2 rebounds and 26.1 points per game. He also set an NCAA record for most rebounds in a season with 734 (which still stands through the 2024–25 season).
Dukes was a 1952-53 consensus first-team All-American. He received the most votes of any player among the Associated Press's (AP) first team All-American selections. He also received the Haggerty Award as the New York metropolitan area's most outstanding player that year. Sport Magazine named him the top college player for the 1952–53 season. The United Press also named Dukes its Player of the Year.
In his senior year, Dukes led Seton Hall to a 31–2 record, and the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) championship; at a time when the NIT tournament was a prestigious event and had more fans at its final game than attended that year's NCAA tournament final game. Dukes was named the NIT's most valuable player. Seton Hall was ranked first in the nation for six weeks that season.
Seton Hall retired Dukes's jersey No. 5. He was inducted into the school's Hall of fame in 1973. The 1952–53 team has also been inducted into Seton Hall's Hall of Fame. Through the 2024–25 season, he holds the school's season records for free throws attempted and made, total rebounds, rebounding average and total points. He holds the Seton Hall career records for total rebounds and rebounds per game (19.5).
During Dukes' senior season, in early March, the team traveled to play Dayton, and Dukes (an African-American) was refused a room at the hotel the team was to stay in; so they elected to sleep on the team bus. After 27 straight wins, Seton Hall lost their first game of the year in an upset loss to Dayton the next day, March 1, 1953. Seton Hall next played Louisville at the Louisville Armory on March 2. Seton Hall had defeated Louisville earlier in the year at Seton Hall, in a game marred by Louisville's players trying to provoke Dukes with hateful language.
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Walter Dukes
Walter F. Dukes (June 23, 1930 – March 13, 2001) was a center for the New York Knicks (1955–1956), Minneapolis Lakers (1956–1957) and Detroit Pistons (1957–1963). He played college basketball for the Seton Hall Pirates. He has held the NCAA Division I men's record for most rebounds in a season for over 70 years.
Dukes was born on June 23, 1930, in Youngstown, Ohio, but later lived in Rochester, New York. He attended public schools in Youngstown and Rochester, including East High School in Rochester where he played high school basketball. In 1948, Dukes moved to South Orange, New Jersey to attend Seton Hall Preparatory School (a college-preparatory school), and graduated with the class of 1949. He then attended Seton Hall University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree. He obtained a Masters of Business Administration degree from New York University, and then an LLB degree from New York Law School in 1960. He also attended The Sorbonne in France. As a college senior, Dukes stated it was more important for him to pursue a law degree than professional basketball, though he would do both if possible (akin to George Mikan).
Dukes was recruited to Seton Hall out of East High School by future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach John "Honey" Russell. He had earlier learned about Seton Hall from his East High freshman basketball coach, who was a Seton Hall alumnus; and from former Rochester Royals player Bob Davies, considered the greatest Seton Hall player before Dukes.
The 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) Dukes played center for three seasons on Seton Hall's basketball team (1950-53). As a sophomore (1950-51), he averaged 12.5 points and 16.1 rebounds per game. In his junior season, Dukes led all college players by averaging 19.7 rebounds per game. He also averaged 20.2 points per game. As a senior, Dukes averaged 22.2 rebounds and 26.1 points per game. He also set an NCAA record for most rebounds in a season with 734 (which still stands through the 2024–25 season).
Dukes was a 1952-53 consensus first-team All-American. He received the most votes of any player among the Associated Press's (AP) first team All-American selections. He also received the Haggerty Award as the New York metropolitan area's most outstanding player that year. Sport Magazine named him the top college player for the 1952–53 season. The United Press also named Dukes its Player of the Year.
In his senior year, Dukes led Seton Hall to a 31–2 record, and the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) championship; at a time when the NIT tournament was a prestigious event and had more fans at its final game than attended that year's NCAA tournament final game. Dukes was named the NIT's most valuable player. Seton Hall was ranked first in the nation for six weeks that season.
Seton Hall retired Dukes's jersey No. 5. He was inducted into the school's Hall of fame in 1973. The 1952–53 team has also been inducted into Seton Hall's Hall of Fame. Through the 2024–25 season, he holds the school's season records for free throws attempted and made, total rebounds, rebounding average and total points. He holds the Seton Hall career records for total rebounds and rebounds per game (19.5).
During Dukes' senior season, in early March, the team traveled to play Dayton, and Dukes (an African-American) was refused a room at the hotel the team was to stay in; so they elected to sleep on the team bus. After 27 straight wins, Seton Hall lost their first game of the year in an upset loss to Dayton the next day, March 1, 1953. Seton Hall next played Louisville at the Louisville Armory on March 2. Seton Hall had defeated Louisville earlier in the year at Seton Hall, in a game marred by Louisville's players trying to provoke Dukes with hateful language.
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