[tamthor]

<font size="-2" face="verdana"><strong><em>Press Release</em></strong></font>

<img src="/images/news/topps_duke_redick.jpg" align="right" hapce="5">New York, NY (Jan. 23, 2007) – The Topps Company, Inc., historic trading card manufacturer, announced today that it will produce special limited edition trading cards of Duke Basketball alums Shelden Williams and J.J. Redick to commemorate the retirement of their jersey numbers.

Williams and Redick, who both starred at Duke from 2003-06 and are currently playing in the NBA, will have their respective jersey numbers retired at separate ceremonies this season. Williams’ number 23 will be retired on January 28 and Redick’s number 4 will be retired on February 4 at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

The first 9,000 fans in attendance at each game will receive the player’s respective commemorative trading card. The card is designed after the 2006-2007 Topps Basketball design, features the player in his Duke University uniform and includes the Topps Rookie Card logo. The special card will also have the jersey number and date foil stamped on the front of the card.

The two Blue Devil stars will be the 12th and 13th players to be honored at “Retirement Day” at Duke, joining:
<ul>
<li>Dick Groat (#10)</li>
<li>Art Heyman (#25)</li>
<li>Jeff Mullins (#44)</li>
<li>Mike Gminski (#43)</li>
<li>Johnny Dawkins (#24)</li>
<li>Danny Ferry (#35)</li>
<li>Christian Laettner (#32)</li>
<li>Bobby Hurley (#11)</li>
<li>Grant Hill (#33)</li>
<li>Shane Battier (#31)</li>
<li>Jason Williams (#22)</li>
</ul>

A two-time National Defensive Player of the Year, Williams holds Duke career records in rebounds (1,262), blocked shots (422) and blocks per game (3.03), as well as single-season marks in blocks (137 in 2005-06) and blocks per game (3.81 in 2005-06). He ended his collegiate career with 1,928 points, 12th among Duke’s all-time scoring leaders. Williams ranks fifth at Duke with a .572 (687-of-1,202) field goal percentage. A consistent force in the paint for the Blue Devils, he registered 59 career double-doubles and had one of only three triple-doubles in school history. The Forest Park, Okla., native earned All-America recognition by various outlets three times (2004-06), culminating in being a first team Associated Press All-America selection as a senior in 2005-06. Currently a member of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, Williams earned a degree in sociology with a markets and management studies certificate.

Redick owns the school and ACC scoring records and ranks 16th in NCAA history with 2,769 career points. A prolific scorer, Redick is second among the NCAA’s all-time leaders in free throw percentage (.912) and stands fourth on Duke’s career chart and 18th in ACC history with a .406 (457-of-1126) three-point field goal percentage. He holds the NCAA career record with 457 three-point field goals made. The Roanoke, Va., native reached double digits in scoring 122 times as a collegian. He owns Duke career records in scoring (2,769), three-point field goals made (457), three-point attempts (1,126), free throw percentage (.912), most 20-point games (70), most 30-point games (20) and most 40-point games (3). A three-time All-America honoree, Redick earned National Player of the Year recognition in 2005 (Rupp Award) and 2006 (Wooden, Naismith, Associated Press, USBWA, NABC, Rupp, Basketball Times). Following his senior year, he became Duke’s first winner of the James E. Sullivan Award, given to the top amateur athlete in the United States. The current member of the NBA’s Orlando Magic earned his degree in history with a minor in cultural anthropology