Post by MIKE MACALUSO on Apr 25, 2006 7:26:18 GMT -5
By John Grupp
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Less than one month after his arrival at Duquesne University, coach Ron Everhart is as busy as ever.
Everhart continued his hectic schedule by showing the campus to potential recruits on Saturday before a quick recruiting trip to South Florida on Monday.
Everhart flew to Miami yesterday to visit power forward Stuard Baldonado of Miami Dade Community College. Baldonado (6-7, 250) also has visited University of Texas-El Paso, Oregon State and Hofstra. He is one of the top 30 junior-college prospects in the nation.
This weekend, two more recruits will visit Duquesne, including guard Corey Lowe of Newton North (Mass.) High School. Lowe (6-0, 175) has been released from a letter of intent with Providence.
Four players, including shooting guard Robert Mitchell of Notre Dame Prep (Mass.) and small forward Trend Blackledge of Southwestern Illinois Junior College, took visits to Duquesne on Saturday.
"Everything was nice to me," said Blackledge, a 6-foot-8, 185-pounder. "I think the city is great. I thought the campus was cool. Everything is within walking distance."
Blackledge averaged 8.6 points and 5.5 rebounds for Southwestern Illinois, which went 34-4 and finished sixth in the nation. He blocked 130 shots, as SIJC reached the national tournament for the first time in 18 years.
Blackledge also is considering Southeastern Louisiana, Arkansas State and Bowling Green.
"His best years of basketball are down the road," Southwestern Illinois coach Jay Harrington said. "He's a very skilled, athletic kid who can jump."
Duquesne received two commitments in the past week -- Destin Damachoua, a 6-foot-2 combo guard from the Masters School, and Matt Garth, a 6-foot point guard from Woodrow Wilson in Dallas. Garth plans to attend a prep school or junior college in 2006-07 before signing with Duquesne.
Also, Everhart disputed reports on Monday that center Hernol Hall was officially released from his binding letter of intent to Duquesne. Hall, a 6-foot-10, 245-pound Junior College All-American from Lon Morris (Texas) is reportedly looking at Arizona and Texas Tech.
"As far as I know, he has not been released," Everhart said.
