Pittsburgh, Pa. – Rising sophomore
Jakub Necas of the Duquesne University men's basketball team was named one of
10 Rising Stars after his performance for the Czech Republic at the 2024 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) U20 EuroBasket.
In seven games, Necas, a native of Blansko, Czech Republic, finished as the top scorer in the tournament, posting an average of 18.6 points per game while shooting 44 percent (44-for-100) from the field, including 38.8 percent (19-for-49) from beyond the arc. He also added averages of 8.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game, registered six blocks and converted 95.8 percent (23-for-24) of his chances at the free-throw line.
Thanks to his performance, Necas helped lead the Czech Republic to sixth place, tying Czechia's best performance at FIBA U20 EuroBasket. In the opening game of group phase, Necas began the tournament with a double-double thanks to 18 points and 10 rebounds against Israel.
Necas came alive in the Round of 16, leading Czechia to a 72-67 victory over Serbia with another double-double thanks to 20 points and 11 boards. It marked the first of four consecutive games to close the tournament where Necas eclipsed the 20-point plateau.
Against Belgium, Necas tallied 20 points, six rebounds, four assists and a block before helping Czechia stage a furious comeback in the fourth quarter of a 79-78 win over Poland with 24 points, 11 caroms, four assists, a steal and a block. Czechia outscored Poland, 31-16, in the fourth quarter, and a three-pointer from Necas with 45 seconds left gave the Czech Republic the lead for good, 78-75.
In the final game of the tournament, Necas missed his third straight double-double and fourth overall of competition by just a rebound, posting 27 points, nine boards, five assists, four steals and a block against Lithuania. He shot 8-of-17 from the floor, including 6-for-10 from deep, and was a perfect 5-for-5 at the free-throw line.
Necas appeared in 34 games for Duquesne as a freshman, averaging 2.6 points and 1.9 rebounds while averaging 11.0 minutes per contest. He saved some of his best performances for late in the season, including career highs in points (12) and rebounds (6) in a 71-67 victory over No. 6 seed BYU in the first round of the 2024 NCAA Championship. He also added three blocks as the win over the Cougars helped the Dukes secure their first win in the NCAA Tournament since 1969.
In addition to the performance by Necas at the 2024 FIBA U20 EuroBasket, rising junior
Matúŝ Hronský played in a pair of international friendlies at the beginning of July for Slovakia. In a 65-63 win over Portugal, Hronský led all scorers with 18 points while adding six rebounds and a pair of assists. He shot 6-of-12 from the field, including 5-for-10 from beyond the arc. Hronský, a native of Poruba, Slovakia, also added 13 points, seven rebounds and a pair of assists in a two-point setback to Portugal.
In two seasons with the Dukes, Hronský has appeared in 43 games, including one start, and has averaged 2.4 points and 1.1 rebounds per game. He is a career 39.2 percent (40-for-102) in his two seasons on the Bluff.
Led by head coach
Dru Joyce III, in his first season leading Duquesne in 2024-25, the Dukes are scheduled to take part in the 2024 Cayman Islands Classic, Nov. 24-26, at John Gray Gymnasium in George Town, Grand Cayman. Duquesne will open play with a 1:30 p.m. tip Sunday, Nov. 24, against South Dakota State.
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