The two have since teamed up in the business arena. And although that college success has opened doors for the former Duke stars as they look for good fortune off the court, the tandem's long shots at development and professional sports team ownership rattle the rim.

The duo, which led a $170 million effort to convert an abandoned tobacco factory into a thriving mix of restaurants and offices and apartments in the heart of the Bull City, faces at least five lawsuits for failing to pay more than $6 million to friends and associates.

Their financial straits have prompted questions about the anticipated completion of that project, West Village. Now, efforts to test the model in other parts of the country are on ice.