He's singled out for stardom

DURHAM -- After Duke beat Albany on Dec. 17, Albany coach Will Brown stepped to the mike and said, "Mike [Krzyzewski] probably doesn't want to hear this, but [Kyle] Singler, he's a first-round draft pick right now." now." The 2007 McDonald's All-American out of South Medford (Ore.) High was flattered by the remark. Still, only 13 games into his first season at Duke, Singler's not thinking about leaving just yet.

"I'll definitely come back [to Duke] for another year, but there's no [NBA] plan," he said.

Duke Nation, you may exhale.

Those who follow Duke know Singler's talent and his value to the ninth-ranked Blue Devils (12-1) are bigger than the eight points and two rebounds he had that night against Albany.

As Duke opens ACC play tonight against Virginia (10-3) with its already thin frontline getting thinner, Singler may be the key to the season.

Center Brian Zoubek is out nursing a foot injury, and starting forward Lance Thomas is sick and questionable. Singler will be Duke's biggest player on the floor.

"It's definitely a different experience," Singler said. "I'm usually not the guy guarding the biggest guy on the floor. It's new, but we won't back off. Someone on the team has to take that role. And we have to play defense as a team."

The 6-foot-8 freshman stepped straight into the starting lineup and dropped 25 when Duke beat then-No. 13 Marquette to win the Maui Invitational on Nov. 21.

The 220-pound forward battled a thicker, more physical front line from then-No. 11 Pittsburgh in an eventual loss on Dec. 20, but Singler still hit a tying 3-pointer in regulation and finished with 17 points.

The freshman is averaging 13.4 points and 6.0 rebounds.

Singler's inside-outside skill makes opposing coaches nervous, but his ability to withstand pounding and still make big-time plays at game's end is what Duke has needed this season.

Josh McRoberts, now a rookie with the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers, left Duke after two seasons. Instead of McRoberts and Singler teaming up against muscular frontcourt players, Singler often has to take them on by himself.

The former high school receiver and quarterback, who staged some fair battles with UCLA power forward Kevin Love back in high school, is unfazed about the pounding he likely will take against power players like North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough during ACC action.

"It's one of the things people look at for us and say [we] don't have much toughness down low," Singler said. "But we can counter with quickness. We can front [the post]. We can get good ball pressure to make it harder for them to do what they want to do."

Singler's father Ed said his son will be fine.

"In terms of him backing down or being fearful or not willing to take on the heat of interior play, there's no question he can handle it," Ed Singler said.

Singler gave up his beloved football to concentrate on basketball as a high school senior while Duke, Kansas, UCLA and Arizona recruited him for the hardwood.

Though he'd be playing far from friends and family, he chose Duke for the talent, the Hall of Fame coach, the ACC competition and the stable environment.

Long before Singler signed his letter of intent in November 2006, Krzyzewski knew how strongly they needed Singler's size on this season's Duke team.

By then, the Duke staff was telling Singler they didn't want him to act like a freshman as a Duke freshman. Pressure, yes?

"Not really," Singler said. "We have such great players here, you don't feel pressure. You just have to go out and play basketball."

The Devils knew they'd have to replace McRoberts, a 2006 ACC All-Freshman team selection who arrived in 2005 knowing he'd stay just two years.

"Now Kyle -- he's a different player, and we'd like to have both playing together, to be frank -- but we knew Kyle would be a good replacement there," Krzyzewski said.

Long before Singler arrived in late July, Krzyzewski said he knew Singler could deliver.

"No question about it," Krzyzewski said.

A simple glance at the family tree told Krzyzewski that. Singler's parents Ed and Kris, two cousins and four uncles have all played Division I athletics.

Also, Kyle's older sister Katen, a three-sport athlete in high school, performs on the Oregon State dance team. And younger brother E.J., who also plays basketball, and cousin Mitch are standout football players, playing for Ed's brother and Mitch's father Bill at South Medford High.

It makes for fun conversation when either side of the family gathers, but Kyle won't say which family member is the best athlete or who has had the best career.

"When it's all said and done," his father said, "Kyle will probably end up at the top of the list."