Clayton State University Athletics

Tony Dukes Louisville Bio (2015-16) I Tony Dukes Clayton State Bio (2012-13)

From Peach Belt Conference to Atlantic Coast Conference, former Clayton State men's basketball player Tony Dukes (2011-13) is not only pursuing his career at the highest level but also his masters as a graduate manager with the highly successful Louisville women's basketball program.
 
A native of Morrow, Georgia, Dukes began his collegiate playing career at nearby Atlanta Metro State in 2009-10. That season he averaged 19.0 points and shot .770 from the foul line to earn National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Region honors.
 
Following that one season, he moved on to then recent Division I transitional school USC Upstate for the 2010-11 season. While there he played in 30 games, starting 18, and averaged 6.0 points and 2.0 rebounds. He also scored a career-high 19 points on 5-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc against Virginia and had 13 points vs. Auburn behind four three-pointers.
 
After that season, Morrow High School's second all-time leading scorer returned home for his final two seasons. In his first year as a Laker, Dukes played in all 27 games, starting 15, as Clayton State went 16-11. That season he averaged 8.0 points, scored in double-digits eight times and swiped 31 steals, good for second on the team. As a senior he averaged 10.3 points and made it two straight seasons of shooting better than .380 from three-point range.
 
It is all of this experience at three different collegiate levels, along with a desire to further his education, that has helped to guide Dukes to his current opportunity with the Louisville Cardinals, one of the best Division I women's basketball programs in the country.
 
A 2013 graduate of Clayton State with a degree in Communication and Media Studies, he is currently in his first year as the team's graduate manager as he pursues his Masters in Sport Administration. In addition to his coursework, he is responsible for assisting with practice, opponent scouting, game preparation, recording game video and helping with on-campus recruiting.
 
How impressive an opportunity is this for Dukes? Over the past five seasons, the Cardinals have posted a 135-44 overall record (.754 winning percentage) and made the NCAA Division I Tournament in each of those seasons.
 
And they haven't just made the tournament, but have been among the best in it with a national runner-up finish in 2012-13 (29-9), an Elite Eight appearance in 2013-14 (33-5) and a pair of Sweet 16 trips (2010-11 and 2014-15). Dukes also has the opportunity to study under the architect of that program resurgence, head coach Jeff Walz and his entire staff.
 
Entering play on December 28, Dukes and Louisville are 7-5 as they prepare to enter ACC play and make another long run in the NCAA Tournament come March. That start is much like his entry level position – deceiving. It is just the first step in making his Dreams Real - something that the native of Morrow, Georgia began with a first step at Clayton State University.