June 9, 2006

Duquesne University head men's basketball coach Ron Everhart has announced the signing of junior college forward Sam Ashaolu (Toronto, Canada/Lake Region State College) to a National Letter of Intent. In addition, the first-year DU coach also announced that Phillip Fayne (Carbondale, Ill./Southwestern Illinois College) has signed an institutional grant-in-aid agreement and will enroll at Duquesne.

Ashaolu and Fayne are the ninth and tenth players to commit to the Dukes since Everhart was named DU's head coach on March 29.

Ashaolu (ASH-a-lou), a 6-7, 225-pound forward, averaged 15.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game for Lake Region State College (Devils Lake, N.D.) this season. The Toronto native shot 53.7 percent from the field and blocked a team-high 27 shots in helping the Royals to a 21-9 record.

Ashaolu, a cousin of former Houston Rockets great Hakeem Olajuwon, attended Nelson A. Boylen Collegiate in Toronto before moving on to Trinity Valley College (Athens, Texas) where he averaged 6.9 points and 3.7 rebounds as a freshman. Ashaolu has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

"Sam is a strong, physical inside player who has the ability to step out and shoot or drive," said Everhart. "He plays with a high level of intensity and toughness. He's a very good rebounder who will make a real impact on our front line right away."

The 6-2, 210-pound Fayne averaged 9.6 points and 4.0 assists per game as a freshman in helping 34-4 Southwestern Illinois College to the NJCAA Division I national tournament this past winter. In two years at Carbondale (Ill.) High School he helped the Terriers to a 59-10 record and fourth and second-place state tournament finishes in 2004 & 2005. Carbondale's 31-3 record and second place state finish in 2005 capped the school's best season in 74 years. Fayne averaged 14.0 ppg. as a senior in earning Illinois Basketball Coaches Association all-state special mention and first team All-South Seven Conference honors.

"Phillip has been a part of winning programs at every level, and he takes great pride in winning," said Everhart. "He'll bring defensive-minded toughness and a scoring mentality to the guard spot. He will greatly benefit the program."

Fayne is the fifth player from Southwestern Illinois College to earn a Division I scholarship with Trend Blackledge - Marquette, Lance Stemler - Indiana, Rorey Lawrence - McNeese State and Jacob Motteler - Northern Arizona being the others. Fayne, who will have three years of eligibility at Duquesne, was also recruited by Southeast Missouri State, Wichita State and Murray State.

DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL SPRING 2006-07 SIGNEES

                                                   2006 2006NAME                    POS HT  WT  CL  PPG RPG HOMETOWN/LAST SCHOOL (TRANSFER)Sam Ashaolu          F  6-7 225 Jr. 15.3    6.3 Toronto, Canada/Nelson A. Boylen Collegiate (Lake Region State College)Stuard Baldonado     F  6-7 225 Jr. 18.8    9.9 San Andres, Colombia/The Winchendon School (Miami Dade College)Destin Damachoua     G  6-1 180 Fr. 18.0    4.5a    Paris, France/The Master's SchoolPhillip Fayne            G  6-2 210 So. 9.6 4.0 Carbondale, Ill./Carbondale (Southwestern Illinois College)Scott Grote         G/F 6-6 200 Fr. 18.2    4.3 Centerville, Ohio/Massanutten Military AcademyReggie Jackson           G  5-11    170 Jr. 9.5 8.3a    Hogansville, Ga./Callaway (Southern Union College)Robert Mitchell          F  6-6 175 Fr. 10.0    4.0 Brooklyn, N.Y./Notre Dame Preparatory SchoolLucas Newton             G  5-9 165 Fr. 21.0    8.0a    Weston, Fla./Westminster AcademyGary Tucker          G  6-1 185 Jr. 15.7    4.6 Pensacola, Fla./Woodham (Southern Union College)Stephen Wood             G  6-4 175 Fr. 21.8    11.0    Saint Albans, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy

Sam Ashaolu         ASH-a-louStuard Baldonado    BALL-da-NAH-doeDestin Damachoua    Dem-a-CHO-aScott Grote         Grote-EE