Duke’s first Black player was CB Claiborne, who came to Duke on an academic scholarship and also played basketball for Vic Bubas from 1966-69. However, Duke integrated slowly and when Bubas retired, the program fell off for several years, which, along with three coaching changes in the 1970’s, made recruiting harder.
Duke’s Black players in the 1970’s included Willie Hodge, Kenny Young, George Moses, Edgar Burch, John Harrell, Harold Morrison and Vince Taylor.
None of them were remotely near Banks athletically - but few people were.
Banks came to Duke with the body of a Greek god despite not really having lifted weights.