PITTSBURGH – Duquesne University head men's basketball coach Keith Dambrot announced today that James Ellis (Pittsburgh, Pa./Westinghouse) has signed an athletic scholarship agreement, making the 6-11, 230-pound center the first Pittsburgh-area recruit signed by the second-year head coach.

"It is only appropriate that James - who attended the same high school as the great Chuck Cooper - is our first Pittsburgh-area recruit." said Dambrot. "James has great touch, he can run the floor and has shown excellent timing as a shot blocker. He has the potential to be a very good player for us. James made great strides both on and off the court during his time at Westinghouse, and we look forward to helping him continue his development here at Duquesne."

Ellis averaged 21.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 7.6 blocks per game in leading Westinghouse (18-7) to the 2018 City League title game as well as a PIAA first round state playoff win. The First Team Pennsylvania Sports Writers Class 3A All-State pick, who finished his career with 1,014 points, was named Pittsburgh Post-Gazette City League Player of the Year. He was also named to the P-G "Fabulous Five" and cited as a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review "Trib 10" all-star.

Ellis is Duquesne's first player from Pittsburgh's City League since Jack Higgins (Schenley), who played for the Dukes from 2004-06 after transferring in from Cleveland State. He is the first City League basketball player signed out of high school by Duquesne since Courtney Wallace (1998-01), who attended Perry Traditional Academy.

Ellis is also Duquesne's first recruit from Westinghouse High since All-American Chuck Cooper. Cooper, the first African-American player drafted by an NBA team, completed his accomplished career on the Bluff as an All-American in 1950.