Nov. 7, 2006

"With outstanding care from the staff at Mercy Hospital, great determination, prayer and God's grace, Sam has made substantial progress over the past seven weeks and continues to improve.

"He is at the point in his treatment where he is being allowed to do more and more on his own, including leaving the hospital for brief periods of time. He's made it to a few practices over the past week which has done wonders for him.

"Even with the progress Sam has made, our family realizes that the road ahead is long, complicated and difficult.

"We ask for continued cooperation from the media in respecting Sam's privacy as he meets the challenges of recovery."

John Ashaolu is a graduate student manager with the Duquesne basketball program. His younger brother, Sam, was one of five DU basketball players shot following a campus dance in the early hours of Sept. 17. Sam, who suffered two gunshot wounds to his head, is currently receiving therapy at Pittsburgh's Mercy Hospital.