Mar 22, 2009

Five Boro Sports: Duncan, former CK star, excels at Merrimack College

By Theo Rabinowitz

March 19, 2009

Darren Duncan might be the best point guard in college basketball that you have never heard of.

Need proof? The Merrimack College junior and Queens native is one of only two Division II players to be nominated for the Bob Cousy Award, given to the top men’s college basketball point guard in the nation after leading the Warriors into the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The 5-foot-10 guard has come a long way from his playing days at Christ the King, where he served as a backup during his two varsity seasons.

His first year at the North Andover, Ma school didn’t go so smoothly. Merrimack went 8-20 in 2006-07, even though Duncan averaged 14 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

“We struggled, that was a tough first year,” Merrimack coach Bert Hammel said. “We put a lot on his shoulders his freshman year, the ball was in his hands from the beginning.”

“[Playing in college] was a bit of an adjustment for me,” Duncan added. “I wasn’t used to playing all the time with players that were so big and athletic.”

Fortuned turned around quickly, for Duncan and the Warriors. Hammel’s club went 17-11 in Duncan’s sophomore year. The then-sophomore was given first team Northeast-10 Conference honors after he led Merrimack to its first NCAA Division II tournament since 2000. The junior averaged 19.5 points and just under eight assists per game this year, once again leading Merrimack into the NCAA Tournament, this time advancing them to the second round.

“He’s one of those New York City point guards that has always had that mind for the game,” Hammel said of Duncan, who is majoring in psychology, but hopes to become a coach one day. “During his three years at Merrimack, I think he’s really grown tremendously, not just as a basketball player but as a person.”

“He’s the most intelligent player,” the coach said, “that I’ve had in my 29 years here. … Whenever he’s on the floor, it’s his show. He’s been an extension of me and my coaching staff on the floor.”

Those attributes earned him a nomination for the Cousy Award. Duncan is one of only 16 point guards and one of just two Division II players to be nominated for the distinguished honor. Duncan joined the likes of Stephen Curry (Davidson), Ty Lawson (North Carolina), and Jonny Flynn (Syracuse) as nominees.

“This nomination is the biggest honor I have ever received,” Duncan said. “When I got the call and they said my name was on the list for this award, I was just in disbelief.”

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