PITTSBURGH – Duquesne University head men's basketball coach Keith Dambrot announced the addition of 10 newcomers, including six with international backgrounds - four of which are grad transfer forwards - and five freshman guards, to the roster for 2023-24.

The grad transfers - all of whom stand 6-7 or taller - include twins Fousseyni and Hassan Drame (Bamako, Mali/La Salle), Andrei Savrasov (St. Petersburg, Russia/Georgia Southern) and Dusan Mahorcic (Belgrade, Serbia/N.C. State).

The incoming freshmen are Jakub Necas (Blansko, Czech Republic), Kailon Nicholls (Toronto, Ontario/Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy), Jake DiMichele (McKees Rocks, Pa./First Love Christian Academy), Lucas Perusek (Willoughby Hills, Ohio/St. Edward), Seamus McDermott (Holland, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep) and Ethan Anish (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice).

"We felt that if we could have scored more consistently on the block, or on the inside - be it with a big man or a guard - that we could have won four or five more games last year," said Dambrot of the 2023 Dukes who finished 20-13. "We really went out of our way to shore up the frontcourt. The four graduate forwards will make us more diversified. They are all experienced players who have been around a lot of winning. We also added a solid group of freshmen who we expect to develop during their time at Duquesne."

The Drame twins, both of whom are 6-7, 200 pounds, played integral roles in Saint Peter's history-making 2022 NCAA Tournament run, when the Peacocks became the first No. 15 seed to advance to the Elite Eight.

The duo transferred to Atlantic 10 member La Salle for the 2022-23 season.

Fousseyni brings 122 games of Division I experience (including 73 starts) to the Bluff, while Hassan has played in 123 D-I games with 51 starts. Hassan started 26 times and Fousseyni 25 times for the Explorers last season.

"Fousseyni is more of an inside player, while Hassan is more perimeter-oriented," said Dambrot. "They are both very competitive and they really know how to play the right way. Fousseyni and Hassan bring unbelievable versatility because they can guard just about any position on the floor. They will also help our ability to rebound more effectively. Their knowledge of the A-10 should also ease their transition."

Savrasov, who began his career at Texas Tech in 2018-19, spent the past three seasons at Georgia Southern. The 6-7, 225-pounder, who has scored 851 points in 102 career games, led the Eagles in scoring (14.3 ppg.) and rebounding (7.3 rpg.) in earning Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors in 2023.

"Andrei is big and strong and has been really well coached," said Dambrot. "He can shoot it from the three line as well as score inside. I can see him playing the three, four or even the five if needed. He's shown he can score at a high level."

Duquesne is the fourth Division I stop for the 6-10, 235-pound Mahorcic who also played at Illinois State, Utah and N.C. State. A 56.5 percent shooter at the D-I level, the Belgrade, Serbia native had his last two seasons cut short by knee injuries.

"Dusan was playing very well at N.C. State before he hurt his knee," said Dambrot. "He was really rebounding at a very high level at the time of the injury. We're not sure when we'll have him back, as he is still recovering. He's a tough player with great size and experience who plays hard. We look forward to getting him back on the floor."

Necas and Nicholls lead the group of incoming freshmen.

Necas brings extensive international experience as a member of Czech Republic age-group national teams. He also played for Basket Brno in the Czech National Basketball League from 2019-20 through 2022-23, where he was part of the Next Generation program. The program was designed to develop the top talent from Brno - the second-largest city in the Czech Republic. He most recently competed as a member of the Select Red team at the 2023 NBA Academy Games which were held in Atlanta from July 6-9.

"The intriguing thing about Jakub is his versatility," said Dambrot. "He can play anywhere from the two to the four spots. He is very good with the ball and is also a deceptive athlete. He's a lefty with the potential to develop into a good shooter in time. Off the court, he is very academically oriented. Jakub will bring a lot of high level experience to our roster."

Nicholls averaged nearly 17 points per game in helping Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy to a 44-2 record in 2023. The 6-0 guard shot 58.2 percent from the field, including 39.8 percent from 3-point in earning Second Team All-American honors from Next Up Recruits. Nicholls played in the 2023 BioSteel All-Canadian Game (Top 24 players in Canada), where he finished second in the dunk contest.

"Kailon is an unbelievably explosive athlete," said Dambrot. "He has that ability to get to a spot and shoot it. He needs to get a little stronger - and he will - but he plays at a high level. He won a lot of games at Hargrave [Military Academy]. I'm sure he'll come in here in great condition."

DiMichele, who hails from nearby McKees Rocks, led Our Lady of the Sacred Heart to four-straight WPIAL Class 2A championships and a pair of PIAA state titles. He was part of Chargers teams that won a state record-tying 68 games in a row.

His 2,642 career points were the second-most in WPIAL history, second only to former Duke Tom Pipkins (1994-97) who scored 2,828 for Valley High School.

"Jake, who put up some prolific numbers at OLSH, also had good numbers during his prep season at First Love" said Dambrot. "He's a very good student who shoots the ball well. He has a chance to contribute for us."

The 6-1 Perusek was a senior captain for 21-3 St. Edward, which held the No. 1 rank in Ohio for multiple weeks in 2023. The Eagles were also ranked among the Top 40 nationally during the season.

"Lucas is a very good athlete with great burst who comes from an outstanding program," said Dambrot. "There have been a million Division I players out of St. Edward. He was coached by one of the best in Ohio in Eric Flannery."

McDermott also comes from a highly-regarded program in Holy Ghost Prep in Bucks County, Pa. where he was a team captain in 2022-23.

"Seamus also played for a great coach - Tony Chapman - at Holy Ghost Prep," said Dambrot. "He is also coming off a knee injury and we expect him to join us on the floor this fall."

Anish started at the point for two-time City League champion Taylor Allderdice. The 6-1 Pittsburgh native saved his best for last, averaging 20.5 ppg. during the Dragons' 2023 playoff run.

"Ethan was a big part of back-to-back City League championship teams at Allderdice," said Dambrot. "He comes from a great family. We look forward to having him with us this season."

The Dukes, who return eight players - including three starters - from last year's 20-13 CBI squad, are in the midst of summer workouts. DU, in its seventh season under Dambrot, will be looking to post back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 1971 & 1972 in 2023-24.
 

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DUQUESNE BASKETBALL 2023-24 NEWCOMERS
 

NAME	POS	HT	WT	CL	HOMETOWN/LAST SCHOOL
Ethan Anish	G	6-1	170	Fr.	Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice
Jake DiMichele	G	6-4	185	Fr.	McKees Rocks, Pa./First Love Christian Academy
Fousseyni Drame	F	6-7	200	Gr.	Bamako, Mali/La Salle
Hassan Drame	F	6-7	200	Gr.	Bamako, Mali/La Salle
Dusan Mahorcic	F	6-10	235	Gr.	Belgrade, Serbia/N.C. State
Seamus McDermott	G	6-2	185	Fr.	Holland, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep
Jakub Necas	F	6-8	210	Fr.	Blansko, Czech Republic/Gymnazium Blansko
Kailon Nicholls	G	6-0	160	Fr.	Toronto, Ontario/Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy
Lucas Perusek	G	6-1	175	Fr.	Willoughby Hills, Ohio/St. Edward
Andrei Savrasov	F	6-7	225	Gr.	St. Petersburg, Russia/Georgia Southern

PRONUNCIATIONS
Ethan Anish -- ANN-ish
Jake DiMichele -- Di-michael
Fousseyni Drame -- Foo-SEE-nee  DRAH-may
Hassan Drame -- DRAH-may
Dusan Mahorcic -- DUE-shawn  Muh-HOR-Chich
Jakub Necas - YAH-kub NECK-us
Kailon Nicholls -- KAY-lon
Lucas Perusek -- per-OOH-seck
Andrei Savrasov -- SAHV-ruh-SOV