Jerry Stackhouse on choosing UNC: Dean Smith was hard to turn down

Former NBA and college basketball star Jerry Stackhouse says Dean Smith persuaded him to choose UNC over Duke.

Former NBA and college basketball star Jerry Stackhouse joined SI’s Ted Keith on this week’s SI Vault Podcast and discussed his decision to attend UNC over Duke. 

Stackhouse, a consensus first team All-America selection in 1995 with the Tar Heels, said the choice came down to the recruiting efforts of legendary UNC coach Dean Smith.

“Ironically enough, I was actually a Duke fan,” Stackhouse stated. “I was really interested in Duke early on in the recruiting process. A lot of it was because of Grant Hill and his success on the court there and just kind of the mystique of Duke, as opposed to some of the other ACC schools. But, when you sit in front of Dean Smith and he tells you that he wants you, it’s hard to turn down.”

Duke did not get a win over Stackhouse’s Tar Heels during his two-year college career.

Currently an assistant coach with the Toronto Raptors, Stackhouse went on to become a two-time NBA All-Star in his 19-year career.