Duquesne head coach Dru Joyce III will lead the Dukes against Northeastern on Saturday, Nov. 22, at LeBron James Court inside St. Vincent–St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio—the gym where he and lifelong friend LeBron James won an Ohio state championship more than two decades ago.
The matchup, open to the public at no cost, marks Joyce’s second straight game at his alma mater. The 40-year-old coach said returning to his hometown is “close to the heart” and offers his players a glimpse of the community that shaped him.
Joyce recently texted James, now a Los Angeles Lakers star, for advice on weak-side defense. “He got back to me right away,” the coach said, noting that their bond remains strong despite busy schedules.
To immerse his team in Akron’s basketball culture, Joyce on Friday took the Dukes to the I Promise School, the LeBron James Museum and House Three Thirty, all projects spearheaded by the LeBron James Family Foundation. During the visit, James’s mother, Gloria James, greeted the group and revealed that she and her son had watched Duquesne’s recent game against Villanova. Players were stunned: “LeBron … watched us?” Joyce recalled.
Saturday’s crowd is expected to include Joyce’s family, friends and former high school teammates. While James is unlikely to attend because the Lakers play the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Joyce said he “won’t be shocked” if surprises occur.
The event also honors Joyce’s father, Dru Joyce II, who coached the 2003 St. Vincent–St. Mary team that featured the future No. 1 NBA draft pick. “It’s going to be fun,” the younger Joyce said of extending that legacy through Saturday’s game.
Source: ESPN.com
