Duke basketball has lost one of its true pioneers. Haskell "Hack" Tison, a towering figure in every sense of the word, passed away at the age of 83. As a key member of Duke's first-ever Final Four teams in 1963 and 1964, Tison helped lay the foundation for the Blue Devil program we know today.
Born a war baby on November 16, 1942, Tison arrived in Durham early in the Vic Bubas era. The 6'10" center was a freshman during the 1962-63 season but, under the rules of the day, wasn't eligible for varsity play until his sophomore year. When he finally took the court, he made an immediate impact alongside fellow big man Jay Buckley, forming an unusually large frontcourt for that era.
That size advantage worked wonders—until Duke ran into a buzzsaw named UCLA in the national championship game. The smaller, faster Bruins pressed relentlessly, handing the Blue Devils an 98-83 loss. But Tison and Duke weren't done. They returned to the Final Four the following year, cementing their place in program history.
In 1965, however, NC State won the ACC tournament—the only bid available at the time—and the Wolfpack's legendary coach, Everett Case, was battling cancer. The conference title was an emotional sendoff for Case, and it meant Tison's Duke team watched from home.
After college, the Boston Celtics selected Tison in the sixth round of the 1965 NBA Draft. But here's where the story takes an unexpected turn. While joining the greatest dynasty in sports history sounds like a dream, the NBA of that era didn't pay much. Tison said he received a better offer from IBM—and he took it. "I was tired of the travel," he explained, choosing a stable career over the hardwood.
It's worth putting that draft selection in perspective. With only nine teams in the NBA in 1965, the 56th overall pick would equate to a second-round selection today. Tison had a viable path: back up the legendary Bill Russell, learn from the best, and eventually become a starter. But he chose a different road.
Teammates remember Tison as a beloved figure, with at least one visiting him in his final days as his health declined. His legacy endures as part of Duke's rise from regional contender to national powerhouse—a pioneer who helped make March Madness a tradition in Durham.