Roshown McLeod was born November 17, 1975, in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was raised primarily by his mother, Diane McLeod — known to everyone as Ms. Diane — in one of the toughest cities in the New York metro area. Jersey City basketball was a proving ground where talent was forged on outdoor courts and in cramped gymnasiums.
McLeod attended St. Anthony High School, the legendary program coached by Bob Hurley Sr. — the same Bob Hurley whose son Bobby had led Duke to back-to-back championships in 1991 and 1992. Under Hurley Sr., McLeod learned defense, discipline, toughness, and the understanding that basketball was a privilege earned through effort. He was tournament MVP as a senior — 18 points, 9 rebounds, and a key block in the championship game. The connection between St. Anthony’s and Duke ran through Bobby Hurley’s bloodline.
McLeod committed to St. John’s, staying close to home. Over two seasons with the Red Storm, he averaged 7.2 PPG and 5.8 RPG in 57 games — struggling to find consistent playing time. He announced he was transferring.
At the time, transfers to Duke were unheard of. Coach K didn’t take them. But the Hurley connection gave Krzyzewski information he wouldn’t have had otherwise. Roshown McLeod became the first transfer Coach K ever accepted. The door he opened would later be walked through by Dahntay Jones, Seth Curry, and Rodney Hood. Each became All-ACC. Each played in the NBA. McLeod was the one who proved a transfer could work at Duke.