By Steve DiMiceli
JUCO combo Travaugh White added his name to the growing membership of the Duquesne recruiting class of 2013. The 5'10ish guard led the NAIA in scoring with 26.1 points per game (53.3 FG%, 35.8 3pt%, 79 FT%) at Independence Community College of the always competitive Kansas junior college circuit. He also had an assist to turnover ratio of 1.4 and a very solid 5.5 rebounds per game in spite of his relatively short head height.
Out of his Kansas City high school, White originally committed to play for St Bonaventure. He later decommitted and verballed to Sam Houston St before ending up in junior college. Aside from Duquesne, White had offers from Southern Illinois, Texas St and Texas - Arlington following his sophomore year at Independence. He also had interest from Creighton and Missouri St according to Rivals. White was the #42 junior college recruit nationally according to JUCO recruiting.
I know very little about White besides his numbers and that he has scored no matter where he has played. After missing out on Devin Brooks and Duane Notice over the past week, White became of must land prospect in my opinion. He could have an immediate impact and should take some of the pressure off Derrick Colter at the point. I suspect that after a year in the A-10 Jim Ferry's philosophy might be changing in that he could see the necessity for two ball handling guards to play at all times rather than two wings.
A very different team will take the floor for Duquesne next season. Colter and Quevyn Winters should both play key roles again, but the rest of the lineup could be composed of newcomers. The void in the post should be filled with Ovie Soko and incoming forwards Jordan Robinson and Isaiah Watkins. White could provide a JUCO boost similar to the one Rhode Island got from Xavier Munford.
According to CBS Sports, Martins Abele and Derrick Martin will be leaving at the end of the school year opening scholarships for White and Micah Mason.
