Dukes have 2 more scholarships to give

Last night on the Ron Everhart show RE announced that the Dukes still have 2 scholorships to give and they are looking for a shot blocker and a post player who can play outside. Bringing in another guard was not mentioned, which begs the question what is going to happen with Kane from Schenley?

Here is how the Dukes recruiting class is shaping up so far:

Guards:
Eric Evans - 5'11 - 180 pounds

Johnny Higgins - 6'1 - 185 pounds

Forwards:
Shawntez Patterson - 6'7 - 180 pounds

Ali Djim - 6'9 - 225 pounds

Eric Evans a point guard from Detroit, (who at this point seems to be the star of this year's recruiting class), had a monster game this week scoring 30+ points. Eric Evans is listed as the #1 combo guard in Michigan by insideprepsports.net. Shawntez Patterson was ranked as the 11th best small forward in Michigan by the same site.

Dukes get 3 signed National Letters of Intent

3 more pieces added to the puzzle for the 2008-09 season.

Duquesne and head coach Ron Everhart received NLI from:

5-11 180-pound guard Eric Evans (Detroit, Mich./Northwestern) - (pictured right)

6-7 180-pound forward Shawntez Patterson (Detroit, Mich./Northwestern)

6-8, 225-pound forward Ali Djim (Chad, Central Africa/Hampton (Va.) Bethel Christian School)

They join 6-1, 185-pound Johnny Higgins (Baltimore, Md./Notre Dame (Mass.) Prep) who had already signed and submitted his NLI weeks ago.

Eric Evans is generally considered a 2 or 3 star recruit by all of the major scouting services. I would assume that Evans will be groomed to take over the PG duties after Kojo Mensah graduates following the 08-09 season. Evan is considered one of the top players coming out of Michigan this year. Evans is also being considered as a candidate for Michigan's Mr. Basketball. Evans' teammate Shawntez Patterson also committed to the Dukes.

Patterson is an athlete with a lot of potential. Patterson is rated as a two star recruit by most major recruiting services. An athletic 6'7 player would be an ideal swingman for the Dukes.

Ali Djim (pictured above) has project written all over him, he isn't rated on any of the recruiting services, and there just isn't much information out there about him. Even coach Everhart's comment about him spells project "He's the type of wide-bodied player we feel we need in our program." Djim is a native of Chad, Central Africa. Things didn't work out too well with Duquesne's last African big man Simplice Njoya (pictured right in a Memphis uniform where he transferred after several lackluster seasons with the Dukes.) I am hoping for a better future for Ali Djim in a Dukes uniform. Djim will have big shoes to fill in the paint after Kieron Achara and Shawn James graduate.

We still don't know what's going on with Schenley High School senior guard Deandre Kane. Kane gave Duquesne a verbal commitment this summer, but there has been no word of him submitting a National Letter of Intent. We are still in a wait and see mode with Kane.

My overall evaluation of the Dukes class:

I love it when we add teammates, it adds instant chemistry to the team, and it doesn't hurt that both Evans and Patterson are rated as solid athletic players. The Dukes need a PG to replace Kojo, and Evans seems to fit that bill, and what team doesn't need an athletic 6'7 forward? I have read a lot of good things about Higgins which I have discussed previously on the blog. I may have sounded harsh about Djim, but it can't hurt to bring in one big man project every other season, I wish he was bigger than 6'8, but let's hope for the best with this kid.

PG article

Trib article

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props to CLK from the Duquesne Dukes Basketball Fans Message Board for the Ali Djim picture