Report: Duke's Plumlee puts Army career on hold to pursue pro ball

Duke center Marshall Plumlee has long planned to enter the Army once his days with the Blue Devils were done, but a surprisingly effective senior season may have altered those plans.

Plumlee will put his Army career on hold to pursue a career in professional basketball, sources told ESPN's Jeff Goodman.

The center - whose older brothers, Miles and Mason, both played at Duke and are now in the NBA playing for the Milwaukee Bucks and Portland Trail Blazers, respectively - was a student in Duke's ROTC program and committed to joining the Army upon completion of his education.

Considering he hadn't played more than 10 minutes per game in any of his first three seasons, a pro career in basketball seemed unlikely, so the Army was the next best thing for Plumlee.

However, a funny thing happened during the 2015-16 season. Plumlee took a much larger role with the Blue Devils, averaging 8.3 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in 30.5 minutes. While the 7-footer is still unlikely to join his brothers in the NBA, his size, combined with the production he displayed in his senior season, could earn him a spot in the NBA D-League, or playing in Europe.