Harding to be honored Sunday

Christian Laettner. Jason Williams. Grant Hill. Alana Beard. The most sacred place on campus this side of the Duke Chapel-the Cameron rafters-is about to get a new name within its hallowed ranks: Lindsey Harding.

Harding, the reigning National Player of the Year who wore No. 10 for the Blue Devils, will become the second-ever female basketball player to have her jersey retired by Duke when she is honored at halftime of this Sunday's game against N.C. State.

"When I first got to Duke there were no female jerseys hanging in the rafters," Harding said. "Seeing Alana's jersey hanging in Cameron inspired me and made me want to have my No. 10 beside her. Maybe now with mine up there as well, it will be inspiring to others."

Harding is the all-time assist leader at Duke, as well as the second Blue Devil and sixth player in ACC history to register over 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists and 250 steals in a career. With Duke winning 128 games in her tenure, the accomplished point guard is the Blue Devils' all-time wins leader. The Houston, Texas native dominated conference play and was a three-time All-ACC Defensive Team selection, a first, second and third team All-ACC honoree, All-ACC Freshman selection and two-time ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

Last season, Harding led the team to the program's first-ever undefeated regular season and only the 14th perfect slate in NCAA history. Junior shooting guard Abby Waner is just one of many teammates who are thrilled that Harding will be recognized for everything that she has given to Duke Basketball.

"Lindsey is very, very deserving," said Abby Waner, who played two seasons with Harding. "It's excellent for our program. It starts more of a foundation for Duke Women's Basketball. You look up in the rafters and it's pretty unbalanced, and you can't say enough about our men's program here, but we're coming along. To have Alana's jersey up there, and now Lindsey's right beside her, I think it's absolutely spectacular and it's what we need."

Here's to building foundations from the ceiling up.