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Pitt coach, Duke star Jeff Capel to be honored with jersey retirement at South View

A Fayetteville basketball icon will be honored this week.

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Former South View legend, Duke star and current Pittsburgh head coach, Jeff Capel III will have his high school jersey retired on Friday night at 7:30 pm following the Senior night festivities before varsity boys tip-off.

During his playing time at South View, Capel was a stout performer in his four-year career. In 1993, Capel was named North Carolina High School Player of the Year and led the Tigers to a 31-1 record that ended with winning a NCHSAA 4A state championship, marking one of the greatest seasons that Cumberland County has ever witnessed, after Capel drained the game-clutching layup to take home the trophy.

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In his iconic career, Capel set the school's record for points with 2,066, 668 rebounds, and 663 assists.

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After his playing days at South View, Capel III went on to play a fantastic four years for the Duke Blue Devils as a starter, coached by Mike Krzyzewski. In his time in Durham in 129 games, Capel averaged 12 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game during his career, and was nominated for an ESPY Award for College Basketball Play of the Year in 1995 for a halfcourt buzzer-beater that sent the Blue Devils to double-overtime versus rival UNC. Capel was also an integral piece of the Blue Devils’ coaching staff on an NCAA championship team in 2015.

In his college career, Capel III racked up 1,601 points, 433 assists, and 220 3-pointers that ranks in the top-10 all-time.

The South View legend went professional with his talent and played in the CBA for the Grand Rapids Hoops, the Raleigh Cougars of the USBL, and in France with Elan Chalon.

When he concluded his playing career, Jeff Capel III began coaching and owns an overall record of 237-191 as head coach for VCU (2002), Oklahoma (2006-2011), and Pitt, where he's been coaching since 2018.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Jeff Cape high school jersey retired at South View