Cardell Dudley Jr

Cardell Dudley Jr. is a multifaceted figure in the basketball world, seamlessly blending roles as a sports journalist, scout, former player, and coach. As the CEO of Finest Magazine and co-host of The Focus TV, he has established himself as a prominent voice in the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) basketball scene. His media work spans coverage of professional teams like the Washington Wizards and Mystics, as well as grassroots and collegiate basketball, highlighting his commitment to showcasing talent at all levels. 

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Dudley's basketball journey began on the court, playing at institutions such as the Allegany College of Maryland, College of Southern Maryland, Frostburg State University. After a strong performance at the Coates Sports Management Pro Combine in 2009, Dudley earned strong interest from professional teams overseas. Unfortunately, Dudley's promising professional basketball career was cut short due to a knee injury, leading him to pivot into sports journalism, where he began writing for Bounce Magazine, a subsidiary of Dime Magazine. Transitioning from player to mentor, he also served as an assistant coach for Next Level AAU in 2010, and is the current director and assistant coach for the Jim Couch DMV Pro Am team, as well as being a player development coach for high school, college and pro basketball players, demonstrating his dedication to developing young athletes.

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In the realm of scouting, Dudley has made significant contributions as a DMV Regional Scout for the Jim Couch National Training Showcase since 2017. His keen eye for talent and in-depth player evaluations have earned him recognition, including opportunities with NBA organizations as well as being selected for the prestigious NBA Future Basketball Operations Stars Program (FBOS) which develops particpants for career opportunities with the league office. Through his work with Finest Magazine's F.M. Scouting, he continues to identify and promote emerging basketball prospects.

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Beyond journalism and scouting, Dudley has ventured into documentary production, contributing to "Ed Meyers: A DC Basketball Story," further cementing his role in chronicling the rich basketball culture of the region . His comprehensive experience and unwavering passion for the game make him a respected and influential figure in basketball circles.

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For more insights into his work, you can visit Finest Magazine or watch his interview on The Game Related Show.

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"Cardell Dudley is one of the hardest working guys I’ve come across at any level of basketball.

However to classify him as a simply a hard worker would be a grave injustice. His knowledge of the game goes far beyond a topical level and he has shown an innate knowledge of the intricacies and nuances of the game.His scouting acumen is elite. He has been an off the books scout for the past several years with the Nuggets and Timberwolves respectfully. In that time it has been a joy to watch the quality of his reports improve incrementally.A perfect example of this is how he identified Danny Wolf as a NBA prospect before much of the league even heard of him while he was at Yale. The same attributes that now find him as a first round prospect Cardell had identified while he was a freshman at Yale.There have been numerous other examples of players he identified unprompted who have since either matriculated to the league or are current prospects in the NBA landscape.Cardell is a journalist, photographer, trainer, scout, coach, and the list goes on and on.His time commitment is unparalleled and has displayed a level of integrity in this space which is beyond reproach." - Minnesota Timberwolves Director of Scouting Joe Connelly

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"Basketball is a game made up of a lot of moving parts, front office, coaches, players. All the way down to the polite person that takes your ticket stub. The game at the moment is in a phenomenal place globally, which I can attest to playing on 5 different continents going into my 9th season. Moving forward with this game one thing that I believe has to be held to the highest standards are scouts. Not just a person who can see what everyone else can see, he/she can run, can jump, can shoot. The best scouts can see and recognize what’s also on the inside of a player, their driving forces, the subtle intangibles. You have to have someone who is still in tune with the game at its grassroots and every level thereafter. A person I know can do this job at the highest level is Cardell Dudley. He’s someone that I’ve watched come thru the ranks the only way you should which is thru hard work. He has a great deal of experience on an off the floor in every aspect of the game. That includes playing, writing, mentoring, coaching and scouting. One thing I know is he does the dirty work and refuses to cut corners. He’s the definition of a basketball purest, someone who you can count on to focus on the process and not the end result. In order for the game to continue to elevate at the rate that it is, people like Cardell are needed to keep the essence of this game we love intact. In the age of social media trainers and self proclaimed “Gurus,” I believe more people such as Cardell are need to keep balance and to continue to advance the game in a respectable way. Countless unbiased conversations about the game and 10 years of watching his development I can honestly say this is someone who will protect our game and make sure that opportunities are laid out to those who are deserving and hold those who are deemed “the guy” to the highest standards." - Duke Crews Jordan Brand All American (2006), Five STAR FORWARD (2006), All-CIAA (2009), CIAA Player of the year (2010), 9 year pro

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"Cardell Dudley has earned my respect as a talent evaluator and player developer. I've know him now for years and hired him at Bounce Magazine as an assessor of basketball talent and to story tell in a way that highlights development. In that time he has earned his way with astute player assessment to go along with analytical measurements. Last year his work at the Jim Couch National Training Showcase earned him an opportunity to be offered a job by an NBA team. He is the real deal. He has always met his deadlines and is a timely worker. Cardell has always gone the extra mile and not only gets the job done but goes above and beyond his assignments with insight and extra level work that illustrates his commitment to thoroughness. He is a budding star in the basketball industry and any organization would be gaining a strong talent." 

Regards, Sean Couch

Director of Jim Couch Foundation

Editor In Chief and Creative Director Combinator Magazine

Former Co-Founder & Editor-In-Chief Bounce Magazine

INDIANA PACERS THIRD ROUND PICK (60TH OVERALL/1987)

Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (Player/1987)

All-IVY League Guard (COLUMBIA/ 1986,1987)