April 22, 2004
Duquesne University head men's basketball coach Danny Nee today announced that Keith Gayden (Chicago, Ill./Tilden HS/Kennedy-King College), a 6-7, 210-pound forward from Kennedy-King College, has signed a national letter of intent to play for the Dukes next season. Gayden is the fourth member of the 2004-05 recruiting class.
Gayden averaged 11.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game in earning NJCAA All-Region IV Second Team honors for 17-13 Kennedy-King (Chicago, Ill.) last season. He is expected to help ease the loss of another KKC product, departed senior Elijah Palmer, who led Duquesne in scoring (13.9 ppg.) and rebounding (5.9) this past season.
"We look for Keith to give us immediate help in the frontcourt," said Nee. "His strength is rebounding and that is where we need as much help as we can get. He comes to us from the same junior college program as Elijah Palmer which is a plus. Keith is a quality person and a good athlete. We look forward to him contributing next season."
Gayden, who attended Chicago Tilden High School, shot 54.5 percent from the field in 2003-04. He will have two years of eligibility at Duquesne.
NCAA GRANTS DUQUESNE ADDITIONAL MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHOLARSHIP
The NCAA has approved a Duquesne University waiver request which will allow the men's basketball program the option of awarding one more scholarship this year, resulting in five total for the 2004-05 recruiting class. The waiver was filed in regard to NCAA bylaw 15.5.4.1 - commonly referred to as the "5/8 rule." The bylaw limits Division I basketball schools from adding no more than five new scholarship players in any year, and no more than eight in any two-year period. Duquesne competed below the scholarship limit of 13 this past season.
DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL 2004-2005 SIGNEES
NAME POS HT WT CL PPG RPG HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL (TRANSFER)
Chauncey Duke G/F 6-7 215 Fr. 28.7 9.8 Springfield, Mo./Southwest Missouri Homeschool Eagles
Keith Gayden F 6-7 210 Jr. 11.0 10.0 Chicago, Ill./Tilden (Kennedy-King (Ill.) College)
DeVario Hudson G/F 6-7 210 Fr. 22.0 9.0 Decatur, Ga./Columbia
Brian Kelly G/F 6-7 190 Fr. 19.0 14.0 Decatur, Ga./Columbia
