Former Blue Devil Jared McCain gushes about his love for Duke at the NBA draft

Jared McCain, the former Duke basketball star drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night, gushed about Duke before the draft.

Former Duke basketball star [autotag]Jared McCain[/autotag]’s life changed on Wednesday night when the Philadelphia 76ers called his name with the 16th pick of the NBA draft on Wednesday night.

Hours before he hugged his family and strode across the stage at the Barclays Center, however, ESPN asked him about his time with the Blue Devils and what The Brotherhood meant to him. The most popular man in Durham over the past eight months, predictably, had nothing but nice things to say.

“It means everything to me, man,” McCain said. “I love Duke with literally all my heart. I can’t wait to visit when I can…It was just a blessing to put on that jersey every night and to know the history that came before me. It meant everything to me.”

McCain averaged 14.3 points and 5.0 rebounds during his one and only season as a Blue Devil, and he scored at least 30 points in two of his final three games during March Madness.

Check out some of the best reactions to McCain getting drafted here.