Sunday School Leader Inducted into Utah Sports Hall of Fame
Contributed By Jason Swensen, Church News staff writer
Official portrait of Brother Devin G. Durrant, First Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency, and his wife, Julie Mink Durrant, April 2015.
Article Highlights
- Brother Durrant reached top levels of basketball with BYU and the National Basketball Association.
- He played two years at BYU before serving in the Spain Madrid Mission.
- The Indiana Pacers selected Brother Durrant in the first round of the NBA draft.
“We’ve tried to live the gospel by taking our children to church and praying together. … We haven’t done anything unique, but we’ve tried to be consistent and practice the basic fundamentals of the gospel within the walls of our home.” —Brother Devin G. Durrant, of the Sunday School General Presidency
Brother Devin G. Durrant, First Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency, was inducted October 18 into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame.
The lifelong member, returned missionary, and former mission president reached the top levels of basketball during his career—starring at Brigham Young University and competing in the National Basketball Association.
The Utah resident was named a McDonald’s high school All-American after leading Provo High School to the 1978 state championship. He played two years at BYU before accepting a mission call to the Spain Madrid Mission.
Despite spending two years away from basketball, he returned to BYU and immediately reestablished his dominance on the court. He averaged 22.8 points per game during his junior year and was named the Western Athletic Conference player of the year. The following summer, he represented the United States of America at the World University Games.
After four prolific seasons in a Cougar uniform, the Indiana Pacers selected Brother Durrant in the first round of the NBA draft. His professional career included stints with the Phoenix Suns and teams in Spain and France.
He also claimed degrees from BYU and the University of Utah and, following his basketball career, became a real estate professional.
Brother Durrant and his wife, Sister Julie Durrant, are the parents of six children.
In 2011 he was called to preside over the Texas Dallas Mission. Three years later he was sustained to the Sunday School General Presidency.
Following his call to the general presidency, Brother Durrant spoke to the Church News about the importance of raising his family in a Christ-centered home.
“We’ve tried to live the gospel by taking our children to church and praying together,” he said. “We’ve read through the Book of Mormon a number of times and tried to be faithful in holding family home evening. We haven’t done anything unique, but we’ve tried to be consistent and practice the basic fundamentals of the gospel within the walls of our home.”
Other 2016 inductees into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame include former University of Utah women’s basketball coach Elaine Elliott, philanthropist and former Area Seventy Jon Huntsman Sr., Utah State volleyball player Annette Cottle, and NCAA steeplechase champion Farley Gerber from Weber State University.
Brother Devin G. Durrant, First Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency, was inducted October 18, 2016, into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame.
Devin Durrant remains one of BYU’s all-time greats. Photo courtesy of BYU Athletics.
