To be a walk-on is to be unknown, to be ignored, to be extras in the layup line, indistinguishable from the others who rarely shed their warm-ups and only draw attention while hoisting 3s in garbage time or jumping on a sideline during March Madness.
Unless your grandfather is the winningest coach in college basketball history. Unless you choose to suit up for said grandfather and represent the most powerful and despised brand in the sport.
Mike Krzyzewski’s grandson couldn’t be an anonymous walk-on. Not at Duke, anyway. Michael Savarino would always be known by a letter that isn’t in his name.
“I think there was a target on my back and there was always something being said,” Savarino said. “You get ripped. Somebody may get your number or your Instagram or social media and send you something. You look at it and you learn to laugh. There’s only so many things somebody can say to you.”
