PITTSBURGH - Duquesne University head men's basketball coach Jim Ferry announced the signing of Lewis Djonkam (Springfield, Va./Hargrave Military Academy), John Walker III (Missouri City, Texas) and Jamari Wheeler (Live Oak, Fla./The Rock School) to National Letters of Intent today.

"To sign three guys of this caliber early shows where this program is and what direction the program is heading," said Ferry. "We were able to recruit versatile basketball players who are all quality kids with the ability to compete in the Atlantic 10."

The 6-8, 230-pound Djonkam is playing for defending 2016 Prep National Champion Hargrave Military Academy as a post-graduate this season, after helping West Springfield High School to the Virginia Class 6A state quarterfinal last year. Djonkam averaged a team-high 14.4 points and 12.0 rebounds per game in earning Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 6A Second Team All-State honors.

"Lewis is one of those old school, throwback low-post players," said Ferry. "He's physical, he's tough. He's a big guy who wants to be a big guy. He competes and takes great pride in rebounding the basketball. I think he'll be able to step in physically as a freshman and help the program."

Walker III, a 6-8 combo forward who is ranked as a 3-star recruit and as the No. 33 power forward nationally by Scout.com., had interest from C-USA, AAC, and Big 12 programs prior to committing to Duquesne. Walker III, who stood 6-3 as a freshman, is coming off a solid AAU season with Texas Pro.

"John is a really intriguing, really skilled forward," said Ferry. "You can play him on the wing, you can play him as a four. He can pass, dribble and shoot and just has a great feel for the game. He was a guard his whole life before he had a late growing spurt. He's almost 6-9 now, and I think his best basketball is ahead of him."

Wheeler, another 3-star recruit, was named First Team Boys Independent All-State by the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches (FABC) following his junior season at The Rock School in Gainesville, Fla. He averaged 13.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 3.3 steals for the Lions, who reached quarterfinals of the Sunshine Independent Athletic Association (SIAA) State Tournament.

"Jamari is a true point guard with a real feel for the game," said Ferry. "He is a tenacious defender who can also shoot the three. He has the ability to break people down and to top it of, he has a fantastic personality, as do all three signees."

"When you put all these pieces together, I think we have a great combination of players coming in here."

DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL 2017-18 RECRUITING CLASS

NAME POS HT WT CL PPG RPG HOMETOWN/LAST SCHOOL
Lewis Djonkam F 6-8 230 Fr. 14.4 12.0 Springfield, Va./Hargrave Military Academy
John Walker III F 6-8 185 Fr. 13.0 6.0 Missouri City, Texas/Thurgood Marshall
Jamari Wheeler G 6-0 160 Fr. 13.1 6.6a Live Oak, Fla./The Rock School