Draftee chance to get it right

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© St. Petersburg Times
published June 5, 2002

ST. PETERSBURG -- The story begins with heartbreak and maybe it ends that way too. Only Elijah Dukes knows for sure. You see, it's his story to tell.

He could open by recalling the tale of his father's grave mistake. The day Elijah Sr. confronted a man who, prosecutors said, sold a piece of fake crack cocaine to the boy's mother for $100. Elijah Sr. shot the man dead and a judge decided he should pay with 20 years of his life. Elijah Jr. was all of 11.

Maybe he could explain the troubles he has encountered along the way. The two arrests for battery, the suspensions and the dismissals. Maybe get into the reasons for attending four high schools in four years.

Or perhaps the best place to begin is now.

Since, for the first time in forever, his future has a chance to overwhelm his past.

"In some ways, he's blessed. He has a God-given ability that is very rare," Hillsborough High football coach Earl Garcia said. "Nothing else matters anymore. Whatever he's done is in the past. If he takes it all the way, he gets all the credit. If he doesn't, he's got no one else to blame."

The Rays called across the bay on Tuesday to tell Dukes he was their pick in the third round of the amateur draft. In the coming days, they will call again to offer a bonus that may climb past $600,000.

Three weeks shy of his 18th birthday, Dukes greeted the news calmly. He knew it was coming, he said, so why get excited?

Maybe he is that mature. Maybe he is that hardened. Neither would be surprising considering the life he has endured.

"Not everybody in the world has the perfect home life," Hillsborough baseball coach Pat Russo said. "He didn't grow up in the best neighborhood. He didn't have a father figure. But he's done the best he can. He's made some mistakes, but he's grown. He's not a 13- or 14-year-old boy anymore. He's a 17- or 18-year-old man. He's grown up. Give him a chance."

They say he is among the most talented teens you will see. USA Today, a few months ago, suggested he was the best two-sport athlete in the country.

A football scholarship awaits at N.C. State. Professional baseball is likely in his future.

He has his entire life before him, but Dukes' past always seems to arrive ahead of him.

Three major-league teams called Russo in the hours before Tuesday's draft. They all wanted to know about the baggage Dukes carries with him.

His troubles are notable not for their severity, but their frequency. According to state records, his first arrest was for battery at 13. A year later, he was arrested on similar charges.

Dukes left Chamberlain, King and Jefferson under clouds of controversy. There were whispers of arguments with teachers, students and referees.

"He could tear a team up. Everybody was on edge when he was around because nobody knew what he would do next," Jefferson High baseball coach Pop Cuesta said.

"He had a tendency to get on other players and ride them for what he felt were shortcomings. He would blame everyone else when things went wrong, even if he had some role in it. I hope for his sake he's grown up a bit. I wish him only the best. "

Phyllis Dukes said her son deserves credit more than criticism. When her husband went to prison in 1996, she was left alone with six children and few prospects.

They had ups and downs, she said, but Elijah straightened out his life between his junior and senior years. He had little choice. An altercation with a teacher left him facing expulsion and confronting his future.

"Right then he had to make a choice because they wanted to toss him out of school. I thank God he went the right way, because a lot of kids have gone astray," she said. "Elijah is a very good kid and he's been blessed with some good people who have helped him along the way.

"Through the grace of God we have gotten to where we are now. This is the most exciting day of my life."

Dukes is not the first prospect to show up with a checkered past. He's not even the first Rays prospect, coming on the heels of Greg "Toe" Nash.

Scouting director Dan Jennings said the Rays investigated Dukes thoroughly and were satisfied he will not be a problem.

Dukes said he has no doubt he is on the right path. He has seen enough misery to understand life's pitfalls.

He can recall his father showing up for every one of his games as a youngster, but has now gone two years without visiting him.

"It was hard for me at first, but I've gotten over it," Dukes said. "I've seen what can happen when you make mistakes like he did. Maybe it put a little fight in me. I think that's given me a little edge on everyone else. I want to do better for myself."

Elijah Dukes has his life in his hands. It's his story to tell.

- Times researcher John Martin contributed to this report.

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