Marshall Plumlee: From The Duke Hardwood to the Army Battlefield

Marshall Harrison Plumlee stands out literally and figuratively. At 7’0” and 250 lbs, it’s hard to miss him under any circumstances. Plumlee has played and excelled at the game of basketball all of his life. In 2011 he was selected to the prestigious McDonald’s All-American team, a team reserved for the cream of the crop high school basketball players. Some of Marshall’s fellow McDonald’s teammates that year included current NBA stars and superstars such as Michael Gilchrist, Michael Carter-Williams, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bradley Beal, Anthony Davis, Austin Rivers and Cody Zeller. Quite an impressive array of talent so you can see that Marshall had major game. Marshall took his talents to Duke University and play four years under one of the best college coaches of all time, Mike Krzyzewski aka Coach K. During his four year career at Duke, Marshall helped lead the team to a National Championship in 2015. If Coach K and his staff recruit a certain player, then their basketball skills are one of the best. Some of Marshall’s teammates from that National Championship team include current NBA players Quinn Cook, Grayson Allen, Tyus Jones, Justice Winslow and Jahlil Okafor. After conquering the top of the mountain in college basketball, Marshall then played two years in the NBA. 

However, there was something missing. Marshall had been enrolled in the ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps) while at Duke. He always wanted to serve his country if the opportunity presented itself. It is also important to note that Coach K is a proud member of the Army. After his NBA career ended, Marshall enrolled in Ranger School at Fort Benning and after two grueling months graduate from Ranger School. He was penned in the graduation ceremony by his mother. The Pittstop Blogger is very impressed that Marshall never wavered from his goal of serving our country and wouldn’t stop until he accomplished that goal. Well done Marshall. Well done.