The countdown to tipoff is on, and Pickin’ Splinters has what A-10 basketball fans need to know about this year’s incoming class.
The Duquesne Dukes take front and center.
After receiving votes for the AP Top 25, the Dukes fell in overtime to St. Joe’s in the A-10 quarter-finals. Duquesne accepted a bid to the CBI and lost to Oregon in the second round 77-75.
Ron Everhart and his staff will look to fill in the void created by graduating seniors Bill Clark and Damian Saunders. The Dukes welcome four freshmen who are Signed, sealed, delivered: Mamadou Datt, Danny Herrera, Kadeem Pantophlet and P.J. Torres along with Derrick Martin who is now eligible after a red-shirt year.
Mamadou Datt 6’8 210lbs. F Dakar, Senegal – Stoneridge Prep
One of two international players in the 2012 recruiting class … came to the United States in August of 2010 after playing club basketball in his native Senegal for two years … grew up playing soccer … began playing basketball when he was 10 … has a seven-foot, one-and-one-half inch wingspan … underwent arthroscopic surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee on August 1 … he injured the knee during a summer league game on July 13 … the injury prevented him from participating in the team’s August Canadian preseason tour…attended Stoneridge Prep in Simi Valley, Calif. (head coach Patrick Tatham) … averaged 14.0 points and 8.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game at Stoneridge Prep … played AAU ball for Double Pump Elite … played for the Jaraaf basketball club in Medina, Dakar for two years prior to coming to the United States … averaged 15.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 4.0 blocks in his final year with Jaraaf…speaks seven languages: French, English, Arabic, Soninke, Serere, Wolof and Poular…grew up playing soccer before an aunt got him interested in basketball when he was 10.
What they’re saying about Datt – Bob Gibbons/All Star Sports: “He has good size. He’s a low-post player. He’s ready to come in and play immediately. He can rebound, but needs a back-to-the basket game. He’s got a lot of upside.”
Danny Herrera 6’4″ 215lbs. F Miami, FLA – Doral Academy Prep
Talented athlete who did not play basketball competitively until the ninth grade … played center for his first two seasons in high school before moving to small forward as a junior … was named to the All-Freshman Team in joining sophomores T.J. McConnell and Mike Talley to help team PBC to the 2011 Pittsburgh Basketball Club Pro-Am summer league championship … PBC defeated SPK Law – a team that featured Pitt’s Ashton Gibbs and Lamar Patterson as well as former Panther Gary McGhee – 86-79 in the title game… played at Doral Academy Prep in Miami, Fla. (head coach Jarrett Forbes) … averaged 19.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game as a senior for Class 3A Doral Academy … finished his career with 1,563 points and 832 rebounds … set multiple school records including most points (502 as a junior), rebounds (264 as a sophomore), and blocks (54 as a junior) in a season … was one of nine McDonald’s All-American nominees from the city of Miami … scored a season-high 27 points three times (vs. Somerset Academy, North Broward Prep and La Salle) as a senior … added five 3-pointers against North Broward … totaled 21 points, including three 3-pointers in earning MVP honors for the Dade team in a 106-103 loss to Broward in the South Florida All-Star Basketball Showcase in March of 2011 … was named to the 2010 and 2011 All-Dade Class 4A-1A first team by the Miami Herald … averaged 22.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game as a junior in earning third team Class 3A all-state honors as a junior … tied his career high (and the school record) with 33 points in a 54-32 win over Choice Learning Academy … added 32 points – including five 3-pointers – in a 49-48 win over Chaminade-Madonna that same season … averaged 20.5 points and 12.0 rebounds per game playing in the post as a sophomore … had a school record 19 double-doubles as a 10th grader … pulled down 15 or more boards four times that season … scored a school record 33 points in a win over Parkway Academy as a sophomore…was also recruited by Ivy League schools Darmouth and Princeton … had a 4.1 weighted GPA at Doral Academy.
What they’re saying about Herrera – Bob Gibbons/All Star Sports: “He’ a wing player a small forward. he averaged 19 a game as a senior. He has the ability to power to the basket, and he can make outside shots. He along with Torres can be a high-scoring pair.”
Kadeem Pantophlet 6’6″ 205lbs. F Tiel, Netherlands – Canaria Basketball Academy
One of two international members of the 2012 recruiting class … excelled as a 3-point shooter at Canarias Basketball Academy played at the Canarias Basketball Academy in Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain (head coach Rob Orellana) … spent last season in the post graduate program at the Canarias Basketball Academy in the Canary Islands … helped the team to a 20-6 record last season … averaged in the 20-25 point range and around nine rebounds for a program that did not keep official stats … has international experience as a member of the Netherlands 2009 U20 European Championship team which went undefeated in Division B, Group C … was part of the 2010 Dutch National Championship team … was a national U20 all-star in 2009 and 2010 … was named the Most Improved Player and dunk contest winner as a member of the U18 national all-stars in 2008…played soccer for seven years before picking up basketball in 2007.
P.J. Torres 6’4″ 200lbs. G/F New Rochelle, NY – New Rochelle
Was a stat-sheet stuffer in high school where he averaged over 20 points, nine rebounds and nearly eight assists per game as a senior … proven scorer with outstanding passing ability…played New Rochelle High School in New Rochelle, N.Y. (head coach Bill Murphy) … averaged 21.2 points, 9.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game as a senior in leading 19-5 New Rochelle to a berth in the Section I/Class AA Final Four … named second team Class AA and A all-state by the New York State Sportswriters Association and first team Tri-County by the Westchester County Basketball Coaches Association as a senior … scored a career-high 38 points and added 16 points against perennial section power Mount Vernon … had 35 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and four steals in a win over Bronx St. Raymond’s … hit five 3-pointers against Mamaroneck … had 14 points for Team Frenji in the title game of the 65th Annual CYP High School Basketball Tournament championship … was named to the all-tournament team and also earned the sportsmanship award following the March 2011 event … scored 42 points to earn MVP honors for the Gold team in a 141-129 win over the Blue at the Westchester County Basketball Coaches Association Senior All-Star game in April of 2011 … scored a team-high 15 points for Real Scout in a 71-60 loss to the Sean Bell All-Stars in the championship game of the Is8/Nike Spring High School Classic in May of 2011 … the game featured recruits from Arizona (Josiah Turner), Pitt (Khem Birch), Iowa State (Tavon Sledge) and St. John’s (Sir’Dominic Pointer, Maurice Harkless, D’Angelo Harrison and Jakarr Sampson) … scored 44 points to lift Hudson Valley to a 103-91 upset win over New York City in the scholastic division opener of the Empire State Games in the summer prior to his senior season … added 38 points – including 21 in the second half – in leading Hudson Valley to its first Empire Games gold medal since 1995 in a 92-85 win over Central in the championship game … Hudson Valley trailed by 17 in the first half … averaged 27.0 points in the four-game tournament … averaged 14.5 ppg. in being named ninth team Class AA all-state by the NYSSA as a junior … scored a team-high 20 point in leading New Rochelle to an 82-75 win over Mount Vernon as a sophomore … the win was New Rochelle’s first over Mount Vernon in four years … averaged 8.1 ppg. on 60 percent shooting as a sophomore in being named Rookie of the Year by The Journal News…honed his game at Rucker Park, “The Cage” on West Fourth Street, Dyckman basketball courts “Baby Rucker Park” at 145 Street in New York City … played one summer for the AAU Gauchos.
What they’re saying about Torres – Bob Gibbons/All Star Sports: “He’s an athletic kid – a scoring machine. He’s got a chance to start immediately.”
Derrick Martin 6’9″ 220lbs. F/C Montgomery, Ala – George Washington Carver
Practiced with the team while sitting out the 2010-11 season as a partial qualifier … has the athletic ability to run the floor … his long wingspan (seven-foot, two-inches) allowed him to excel as a shot blocker in prep school…attended Flora MacDonald Academy in Red Springs, N.C. (head coach Derrick Bond) … Alabama native averaged 14.0 points, 15.0 rebounds and 7.0 blocked shots per game in one season at Flora MacDonald Academy in Red Springs, N.C. … played alongside fellow Alabamian and Top 50 national recruit 6-8 Luke Cothron at Flora MacDonald … was cited by ESPN Recruiting’s Paul Biancardi as one of the spring of 2010 top unsigned players “flying under the radar” at the time of his signing … attended George Washington Carver High School in Montgomery, Ala. (head coach James Jackson) prior to enrolling at Flora MacDonald.
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