By Steve DiMiceli
News has been slow to surface on the Duquesne recruiting front and we have a job opening at point guard. Since Jim Ferry has taken over, two players have emerged as candidates to take it. JUCO point guard Trivante Bloodman has an offesr from Duquesne along with a number of other schools including Mississippi State, and Texas Tech. New York native and California resident Trey Dickerson has the Dukes in his top 3 behind Mississippi State and Hofstra with interest from Rhode Island, Washington St and USC. Dickerson, originally committed to Seattle, opened his recruiting reopened his recruiting after Ron Everhart offered him a scholarship. That's it for the known. Here is a list of players I hope Jim Ferry will be checking out over the next couple of weeks.
Sekou Harris (5'11'' Plainfield, NJ) - Sounds like a guy who really came on in his senior year. He's collecting a ton of low major offers including LIU but not much a above the MAAC. I believe he's a guy who Ferry could swoop in and get.
Michael Orris (6'3'' Crete, IL) - Former Illinois commitment and #22 point guard prospect according to ESPN seems to be putting all his eggs in the Bruce Weber basket. Visited Manhattan last weekend but has yet to commit. According to Rivals, K St hasn't offered. Might be nice to be a fall back option should his recruitment take a strange turn.
Joey Gripper (6'1" Jenkintown, PA) - Quick guard was unable to qualify last year and prepped a year. His recruitment has been quite this year so I fear academic problems may persist. Would be a nice addition if eligible given that he is a 4 year player whose had an extra year to develop.
EJ Twyman (6'1'' Wildomar, CA) - Inland Player of Year in Southern California. I'm wondering if he was the super secret verbal that Alan Robinson hinted at. He has one and half year old daughter so I'm curious if he move across the country for a basketball scholarship.
Lebrant Walker (6'1'' Queens, NY) - Picked up an early offer to SMU, but his recruitment has been quiet since.
Jawan Straughter (6'0'' Plainfield, IL) - Watched his highlights and it was 60% great passes. Seems like a fit for the Jim Ferry system. Not a lot of info out there on him otherwise.
Max Guercy (5'9'' Mission Hills, CA) - Saw that he recently picked up an offer from Rice to go a long with quite a few mid and low major offers. He's a little on the short side, but is quick.
Mitchell Badillo (5'11'' Cypress TX) - Not sure if this guy will be in the running but he has great range on his shot.
Again, this is all speculation aside from the guys mentioned in the first paragraph. I'm not suggesting any of these names will end up on the bluff just that they are guys I would be looking at.
