Redick closes in on record book
J.J. Redick appears well on track to rewrite the scoring records of not only Duke but also the Atlantic Coast Conference and the entire NCAA.
With another huge day at Maryland Saturday, Redick surpassed Christian Laettner to move into second place on Duke's all time scoring chart, leaving him just 62 points behind the all time leader, Johnny Dawkins.
Advertisement
More immediate on Redick's hit list is the ACC and NCAA record for career three point baskets.
After canning another four long range bombs against the Terrapins, including one first half bomb that was hoisted roughly from Chesapeake Bay, Redick sits with 412 three pointers in his career, a mere one long range dagger away from tying Virginia legend Curtis Staples.
Oddly enough, Staples and Redick each claim Roanoke, Virginia as their hometown. Staples has had his eyes on Redick for quite some time.
"It's ironic that we're both from Roanoke," Staples said this weekend. "I've been observing J.J. for some time now. He's worked really hard and I've seen a lot of improvement in his game. He deserves (the record)."
Staples has held the record of 413 three pointers since graduating in 1998. He surpassed Doug Day of Radford, who previously held the record with a total of 401.
Redick and Staples are each in a league of their own in ACC history when it comes to three point shooting. Each player is more than 60 three pointers clear of legends such as Dennis Scott, Trajan Langdon, and Randolph Childress.
To put it a little more in perspective, one could double the career total of three pointers made by Duke's Jeff Capel (220), and that number is likely to fall short of what Redick's count will be by the end of the season.
Staples holds no disappointment about his record's imminent collapse.
"There's not any sadness. Years ago I broke Doug Day's record. I'm glad to see someone like J.J. break it. He's a significant player in college basketball."
Staples knows no matter how many Redick ends up making, it doesn't diminish his accomplishments at Virginia.
"For me, it was just my stamp that I left on college basketball. I really didn't appreciate the record until I was out of college. It will still be my stamp and I'll probably always be in the top five or so."
The ACC's all time leader for three point field goal percentage is Wake Forest's Cal Boyd, who played from 1987-89. Boyd canned exactly 47 percent from behind the line in his career.
Entering this season, Redick was hitting 39.9 percent for his career. Figuring in his to date senior statistics, Redick is shooting 40.79 percent for his career.
If that number holds, he would rank 18th in the ACC for career three point percentage.
Redick's career has evolved into one for the record books and one for the story books. There's no question he will hold numerous records when he departs Duke.
The only way to further enhance his legacy is by doing exactly what he said his only goal was in the preseason: win the national championship and cut the RCA Dome nets down in April.