Nov. 17, 2004
Duquesne University head men's basketball coach Danny Nee has announced the signing of junior college point guard Vandrell Rivers (Dothan, Ala./Wicksburg/Southern Union State CC) and forward/center Ronnie Thomas (Middlebury, Ind./Northridge) to national letters of intent. Rivers and Thomas are the first two to sign with the Dukes for the 2005-06 season.
"Both Ronnie and Vandrell showed an interest in us from the beginning," says Nee. "They fit the profile of the kind of player we want to recruit at Duquesne. We're very happy to sign both and think both will be very successful here."
Rivers, a 5-11, 175-pounder, averaged 7.0 points and 6.4 assists per game as a freshman in helping Southern Union State (Wadley, Ala.) to a 19-13 record and a tie for fourth place (9-7) in the 11-team Alabama Community College Conference. SUSCC ended the year by reaching the semifinals of the NJCAA Region XXII Tournament before falling to the eventual champion. Rivers, who started every game, handed out 10 or more assists five times with a high of 14 vs. Shelton State. He shot 47.4 percent from the field and scored 10 or more points in a game six times.
Rivers attended Wicksburg High School in Newton, Ala. where he was named Class 2A Boys First Team All-State by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. A two sport star, Rivers was also named Class 2A All-State by the Birmingham News as a football wide receiver.
"Vandrell is an experienced, very quick point guard who is an important part of a very successful junior college program," says Nee. "He is a very good outside shooter who knows how to win."
Thomas, a 6-10, 225-pounder, averaged 10.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game in helping Northridge to the Class 3A NorthWood Sectional last winter. He shot 62 percent from the field and 79 percent from the line for the 15-9 Raiders. Thomas also considered Virginia Tech, Ball State and Princeton in addition to Duquesne. Ronnie's older brother, Aaron, was recruited by - and played for - Danny Nee at Robert Morris in 2000-01. Aaron, a 6-7 forward went on to become a four-year starter and 1,000-point scorer for RMU. Ronnie is ranked No. 100 on Hoop Alliance's list of top recruiting prospects for 2005.
"Ronnie is a good, quality big man," says Nee. "He can rebound, shoot and pass. He is just your typical fundamentally sound Indiana basketball player. He is versatile enough to play inside or outside."
The two signees leave Duquesne with one remaining scholarship for 2005-06.
DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL 2005-06 SIGNEES
NAME POS HT WT CL PPG RPGVandrell Rivers G 5-11 175 Jr. 6.4 5.8aDothan, Ala./Wicksburg (Southern Union State CC)
Ronnie Thomas F/C 6-10 225 Fr. 10.7 6.7Middlebury, Ind./Northridge
