Erwin Dudley

By Gary Lloyd
Love of Sports Correspondent

It’s common to see players from way back in the day in this section.

I guess that’s where the word “old” is incorporated.

However, “old” plus “school” doesn’t necessarily mean back in the day - to me. Take Erwin Dudley, for instance. He was born in 1981, and his last basketball season at the University of Alabama was the 2002-03 campaign.

But what Dudley did was stay in school. Because he was smart.

Despite averages of 10 points and eight boards as a freshman, 14 points and 10 rebounds as a sophomore and 15 and nine his junior season, he chose to stay at the Capstone when he could’ve entered the NBA Draft. Instead, he stayed and averaged almost 15 points and 9.5 boards as a senior.

Hard work led to great numbers in a great conference. He had to get drafted, right?

Nope. But he didn’t let his undrafted status eat away at him.

So, in 2004, he began to play in Israel. That first season, Dudley poured in 19.7 points and pulled down 11.6 boards.

In 2005, he averaged 17 and eight for Turk Telekom B.K. In ‘06, with the same squad, it was 16 and 8.8. Turk Telekom B.K. has since extended his contract through the ‘09 season.

Those are obviously impressive numbers for the tireless worker with a degree in criminal justice.

Want more impressive facts? I got ‘em.

Dudley was a Third-Team All-American as a junior. He was SEC Player of the Year that same season as well. His sophomore through senior years, he led the SEC in rebounding, the first to do that in back-to-back years since some guy named Shaq. He’s Alabama’s all-time leader in starts, with 129, and he recorded 43 double-doubles in his four-year career.

That’s just some of Dudley’s accomplishments. NBA caliber statistics? I think so.

But it didn’t work out that way for Erwin, so he’s making the absolute best out of a situation some didn’t foresee him taking part in.

And that’s an old school attitude. So, today, Erwin Dudley gets some Old School Love from us.