Duke shows interest in Joe Cremo

PHOTOGRAPHER: Peter R. Barber

UAlbany guard Joe Cremo, who plans to play his final year elsewhere, said Duke has contacted him.

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Joseph Girard III is not the only Capital Region guard Duke is interested in landing.

Joe Cremo, who announced late last month along with fellow junior David Nichols that he was leaving the University at Albany program and would play next season elsewhere as a graduate student, confirmed Friday that he is being recruited by the national power from the ACC.

“Ya, their assistant [coach] reached out to me yesterday, coach Scheyer,” the former Scotia-Glenville star texted The Daily Gazette Friday. Cremo was referring to associate head coach John Scheyer, a former Duke All-American who just completed his fourth season as an assistant under head coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Girard III, a junior from Glens Falls, set the state career and single-season scoring record for New York boys this season. He has received numerous offers from high-level Division I schools, including Duke.

Cremo said no offer was made Thursday, and he is still exploring what opportunities are out there.

“Still looking at all my options,” Cremo said. “All about the right fit.”

The site 247Sports first reported on Duke’s interest in Cremo. The site said other schools interested include “Arizona, Cincinnati, Creighton, Louisville, Marquette, Ohio State, Seton Hall, St. Bonaventure, St. Joseph’s, SMU, Texas, Texas Tech, UConn, West Virginia and Wichita State.”

Both Cremo and Nichols never played in an NCAA tournament during their time at UAlbany. This past season started with promise, but the Great Danes went 10-6 in America East and were ousted in the conference tournament’s quarterfinals to finish 22-10.

“It’s nothing personal. It’s about what’s best for me,” Cremo said after announcing his decision to leave the hometown Great Danes. “[Coach Will Brown] loves me as a player and a person, and he truly cares about me. I told him, ‘I care a lot about you and this team,’ but at the end of the day, I wanted to take this chance.”

Reach Executive Sports Editor Mark McGuire at 395-3105, [email protected] or @MJMcGuire on Twitter.