Lorenzo Duncan

A native of Cairo, Illinois,[1] Duncan attended Cairo High School[1] where as a senior in 1980–81 he was named all-state.[2] That year he averaged 16 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals per game while leading the Cairo High Pilots to a 30–5 record.[2] The team finished in third place in the Illinois Class A state tournament.[2] Duncan was considered a "big-time point guard" who was recruited by NCAA Division I schools such as Oklahoma, Western Kentucky, and Southern Illinois, but due to his grades he was not immediately eligible to compete in the NCAA.[2] Instead, Duncan chose to play for the Alabama–Huntsville Chargers, a school in the NAIA which did not adhere to the same academic requirements for student-athletes as the NCAA.[2]

As a freshman at Alabama–Huntsville in 1981–82, Duncan appeared in 25 games and averaged 12.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 3.6 steals.[3] He helped guide the Chargers to win the Southern States Conference (SSC) Men's Basketball Tournament and was named to the all-conference first team.[4] The following year, he averaged 15.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 3.6 steals per game in 36 games played.[3] Alabama–Huntsville repeated as SSC Tournament champions with Duncan being named the tournament's MVP.[5] He repeated as a first-team selection while also taking home the regular season's top honor – Duncan was the 1983 Southern States Conference Player of the Year.[6]

After his sophomore season in 1982–83, a coaching change led to his decision to transfer out of Alabama–Huntsville.[6] He went to Sam Houston State in the Gulf Star Conference, an NCAA Division II conference in its first year of existence.[6] Due to NCAA transfer rules, Duncan had to redshirt (sit out) his 1983–84 season.[3]

As a junior in 1984–85, he averaged 12.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 3.0 steals per game in 28 appearances.[3] Although the Bearkats mustered only a 16–12 overall record, Duncan was selected to the All-Gulf Star first team.[7] The following season, Duncan's senior year, Sam Houston State went 9–1 in conference play (27–6 overall), were Gulf Star regular season champions, and earned a berth into the 1986 NCAA Division II tournament. He averaged 17.4 points,[8] 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.7 steals per game in 33 appearances en route to a second consecutive (and fourth overall) first-team all-conference selection.[8] Duncan was also named the Gulf Star Player of the Year, marking the second time he was named a league's MVP.[8]

Duncan was selected in the sixth round of the 1986 NBA draft by the Washington Bullets (128th overall).[9] He never played in the NBA, however.[9][10]

He played in the British Basketball League from 1986 to 1992. In 1988–89 he played for the Hemel Hempstead Royals (as of 2021–22 known as the London Lions) where he was a BBL All-Star.[11]

• Lorenzo Duncan @ basketball-reference.com