Ask Michael Duke a basketball question about a girls team or player starting with the words, "have you seen?" 

Likely, he has.

High school basketball coaches are often scouting opponents and watching games on video to prepare for a game.  It seems unlikely that anyone watches as much basketball as Triton Central assistant girls basketball coach Michael Duke.

Coach Duke could be prepping for the Lady Tiger basketball program or an AAU team.  And he may be watching even more now after agreeing to a recent assignment to serve as a head coach for the 17U team of the Indiana Pride Girls Basketball Program.

Duke is back in a travel head coaching position full time after about a year away.

It seems like Coach Duke is always scouting, watching and taking notes on players and teams.  It can be particulary time consuming during Triton Central's long school season.  He says sometimes that takes away from time other AAU coaches use to track players to build their teams.

Duke has Cerebral Palsey.  He doesn’t feel it’s gotten in the way of his coaching aspirations.  And it didn’t stop his jump shot when he was younger.  That shooting ability prompted his desire to coach.

From coaching at Triton Central to coaching across other formats and regions with AAU Duke says he’s been able to reach kids and players.  That’s even when he’s willing to admit that he hasn’t pinpointed exactly why.