Imagine being Elton Brand. It seems appealing enough.
There's glory, fame and a bright future. You get to play for a glamourous program at a glamourous school.
Nothing wrong with that. That is, if there wasn't another side to the story.
Consider the pressure.
Despite playing just over half a college season, you are already being touted as one of the best in the country, the near-unanimous ACC Player of the Year and possibly the first men's basketball player at Duke to leave early for the pros.
If it doesn't make sense to you, don't worry, you're not the only one.
"It's all definitely surprising because I'd definitely say I'm unproven right now," Brand said. "I haven't played half of an ACC season and I'm up for ACC Player of the Year. It's an overwhelming jump that the media has made, but I'm looking forward to the challenge of just playing better and challenging myself."
Brand has come so far so fast that the steps are almost forgettable. He was certainly highly touted coming out of Peekskill, N.Y., but just 11 games into his freshman season, Brand was already a focal point, maybe the focal point, of the Blue Devils' offense.
Of course a foot injury held him back for a few months, but when Brand returned last Feb. 22 against UCLA, it was as if Elvis had returned to the building. His presence alone wasn't quite enough to lead Duke back to the Final Four, and Brand admits he wasn't as fluid on the court then as he was during the first month of the season.
"Of course being out humbled me," Brand said. "And hunger, just wanting to play and being able to play. Those two months, just having to sit around, it really humbles you.
"I was just happy to be a part of the team again. After being on the sideline cheering for the team, it was good to be back. I didn't know what my role would be; I knew it wouldn't be the same role as when I left. But I was just happy to be back."
And
That's when much of the national media caught on anyway. Sure he already had a strong reputation by then, but suddenly the freshman who displayed as much potential as any Duke big man was about to be a sophomore with as much promise as any big man in the country.
"The Goodwill Games were tremendous for Elton Brand," coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "Everybody has said that he was a great player, but he was not a great player last year. He was going to be a great player when he got hurt, and then at the end of the year he wasn't a great player, but a good player that wasn't in top condition.
"The Goodwill Games gave him an opportunity to know he is a great player. It's not hype or anything anymore. Doing is the key, and that's the biggest thing that happened to Elton this summer."
Now, Brand returns as Duke's unquestioned leader in the middle. The two preseason games have shown, albeit against weaker competition, the dominant all-around game Brand possesses.
The accolades have certainly followed, from being named a finalist for the Wooden National Player of the Year Award to this week's selection as a first-team preseason All-American.
"I expect to just go out and play hard and help propel our team to be the best at the end of the season," Brand said. "There are going to be a lot of people gunning at us and gunning at myself because they see the preseason accolades, but I'm just going to play and we're going to hopefully play our best."
The best for Brand is described with extremely high expectations now. And that pressure could pale in comparison to another factor as the season
"[The media] mentions the NBA and leaving early and being the first Duke player to ever leave early and things like that," Brand said. "I don't look that far into the season, and I'm unproven right now. It's not like, okay, you're a first-team All-American last year so now coming back this year. No, it's none of that. That's definitely another jump ahead the media has made.
"You worry about it when the time arises because the time may never arise."
Brand is already used to the talk and does seem set on waiting until after the season to think about his future. Though it has nothing to do with him personally, Brand has to live with the legacy of no Duke player having ever left early.
He points out that each individual's situation is different, and no one is more supportive of him than his coach.
"At the end of the year for all of them, if that's what happens, that's what happens," Krzyzewski said. "Elton has got to prove himself to be a great player this year for the whole season. If he thinks too far ahead, he's not going to improve now."
Added Brand, "Coach is behind us 100 percent. Ever since his home visit he's been supporting us, and we believe in Coach and he believes in us. He'll probably even help players in their decision and whatever they have to do."
For Brand, there is no decision right now. He is still focused on proving himself for a full season and helping lead the top-ranked Blue Devils a few games further than they went last year.
He knows he is still a long way from joining the likes of Grant Hill, Christian Laettner and Johnny Dawkins in Duke lore. But at the same time, just the chance to join them is an opportunity not many have.
"To me he's a beautiful player to watch," Krzyzewski said. "He's potentially a great player. God gave him special things."
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