Duke Blue Devils guard Andre Dawkins is stepping away from the entire team for the 2012-13 s college basketball season. Dawkins is still having a tough time getting over the death of his sister Lacey Dawkins in December of 2009.
Tamara Hill, Dawkins mother, and Lacey were on there way to see Andre play against St. Johns in December of 2009 when the accident occurred. The accident occurred on Interstate 77 in West Virginia involving three other vehicles. According to WVNS-TV in West Virginia, rescue personnel had to use the Jaws of Life to get Dawkins and Hill out the vehicle. Lacey Dawkins was 21 years old at the time of her death.
Head coach Mike Krzyzekwski issued a statement through the school when Dawkins lost his siter.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Andre’s sister, Lacy,” he said. “Andre is a terrific young man, and his family is very important to him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Dawkins family during this trying time.”
Over the summer Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski announced that Dawkins would sit out the 2012-13 season. The consensus was that Dawkins would be a traditional redshirt. He would not play in games, but still be on scholarship and involved with the program throughout the season by taking part in practices and team activities.
Dawkins will be categorized as a basketball player on scholarship, which means no practices or basketball related activities. He wasn’t even apart of the 2012-13 team picture.
For Dawkins this was a chance for him to better his life. Andre Dawkins Sr. said this his son is working through his grief.
“He is doing really well with that,” he said. “We’re supporting him in whatever way we can. We’re just taking it one day at a time.”
Dawkins plans to return to the team next season as a full-time player. He average eight point and two rebounds a game last season coming off the bench. The Blue Devils will look forward to getting Dawkins back next year as he will be a star player.
