TAMPA, Fla. — Casey Sanders knew Coach K's retirement was coming.
He just didn't know the clock would be ticking during the upcoming season.
"You would think me being on the inside [I would know], but I guess I'm not as inside as I thought," the former Tampa Prep star said with a laugh.
Sanders said Duke was the first school to check him out his freshman year in high school. He remembers Tommy Amaker, now Harvard's head coach, having a big impact on that process.
Ultimately, Mike Krzyzewski is the closer, Sanders says.
"Coach gets you downstairs in that basement and starts showing you those highlights of Christian Laettner, Grant Hill, (Steve) Wojciechowski and all those guys -- just the tradition," Sanders said.
The 2001 National Champion didn't understand at the time how much the game of basketball would affect his life when picking up the sport as a young kid.
Coach K helped hammer home values Sanders still follows to this day.
"People older than me were telling me, 'you're going to learn so much stuff that you're going to be able to use again,' you know, in real life. I was like, 'what does putting a little ball in a little round hole have to do with anything else I do in my life other than playing basketball?' Learning how to focus in on things you want to pursue, making sure that you take care of personal responsibility. You know, that was one of the things I really got from him."
The 41-year-old financial representative for Northwestern Mutual in Tampa teaches these same lessons to his clients.
He will admit, he is nervous about what the program will look like with his former coach gone, but he has all the faith in Jon Scheyer to get the job done.
"I think he's going to make an excellent replacement coach. I mean, who wants to follow K? Scheyer says me. Hey, he's got my support."
With Coach K planning to enjoy retirement with his grandchildren, Sanders cannot help but say thank you.
"Coach, I love you for everything that you taught me, you know, not only the basketball side of everything but everything else in life that I used to better myself as a person and my other profession now. You know, all that comes from that guy -- having tough skin and wanting to be excellent."
Sanders has one ask and it does not require rooting for the Blue Devils.
"He's America's coach. It's OK to boo us as a team and not want us to win. But I mean, my goodness, that guy. You've got to tip your hat to that guy."
What other people are reading right now:
- Popular summer vacation spots likely to be crowded and expensive. Here are some travel tips.
- LGBTQ+ advocates question timing after DeSantis vetoes funding for Pulse survivors
- Man accused of shooting somebody in the face over dog dispute has 'anger issues,' sheriff says
- Florida COVID hospitalizations at lowest point in a year
- What can I get tax-free during Florida's Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday?
►Breaking news and weather alerts: Get the free 10 Tampa Bay app
►Stay In the Know! Sign up now for the Brightside Blend Newsletter