Compiled by Paul Gotham
Counting down to tipoff and previewing the incoming freshmen of the Atlantic 10 with a look at the first-year players of the Duquesne Dukes.
The Dukes went 13-17 (5-11 A-10) in 2013-14 and fell to Richmond in the second round of the A-10 tournament.
Jim Ferry welcomes five freshmen and one transfer to Duquesne: Eric James, Tysean Powell, Jordan Stevens, Marshall Macheledt, Jordan Robinson and Mar’Qywell Jackson.
Eric James Fr. G 6-5, 205 Westerville, OH/ Westerville
Averaged 18.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game as a senior for 19-6 Westerville Central … helped the Warhawks to their first Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division title in six years with a 13-1 record … scored 30 points – including 22 in the second half – and added five rebounds and four steals in a 79-69 win over Delaware Hayes in the District playoff semifinal … followed that with a game-high 24 points in season-ending loss to top-seeded Northland in the District championship game … honorable mention Associated Press Division I All-Ohio … named Third Team All-Metro by the Columbus Dispatch … also named All-Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division Player of the Year … earned All-OCC Cardinal First Team mention … cited as the No. 3 small forward in Ohio by Triple Double Prospects … played for the Ohio Capital Conference in the District 10 All-Star Game in April of 2014 … finished with 17 points, six rebounds and a number of highlight reel dunks … averaged 16.8 ppg. in earning First Team All-OCC and Third Team All-District as a junior. Named a 3-star recruit by Scout.com … received offers from a number of Mid-American Conference schools including Ohio, Toledo, Kent State and Western Michigan … played AAU ball for All-Ohio Red … was one of five Dukes to post a 40-inch vertical jump in July 2104 testing.
What they’re saying about Eric James – Chris Johnson/ Hoop Scoop: “Eric is one of my favorite guys in the class. Duquesne got a great sleeper in him. The high school he attended is a football school. They’ve never been much of a basketball school. They had their best year with him. He’s probably ideally suited to play the two-guard. He has played point guard. He’s big enough and athletic enough to guard threes. His shot is a little inconsistent from outside – hit 3pt. shot – he’ll need to tighten that up a little bit. He has a chance to be an outstanding player at Duquesne.”
Tysean Powell Fr. F 6-6, 215 Twinsburg, OH/ IMG
Averaged 16.4 points and 9.3 rebounds as a starter in all 19 games … shot 53 percent from the field and 57 percent from the foul line … totaled 10 or more points 18 times … scored 20 or more in six games with a high of 25 vs. Impact Academy … posted seven double-doubles including a 24-17 effort in the season finale also against Impact Academy … had eight double-digit rebound games … handed out a season-high seven assists vs. Raleigh’s Finest … Benedictine High School in Cleveland, Ohio (head coach Albert Wilson) … played on the same team as Dukes guard Desmond Ridenour as a freshman and sophomore … averaged 7.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game in helping Benedictine to the Division II Westlake District championship as a junior … the Bengals, who had a 6-16 record entering playoffs, won four straight to win the title … Benedictine ended up advancing to the Division II regional semifinal … transferred to IMG Academy prior to his senior year. Was rated as a 3-star recruit by Scout.com … played AAU ball for Ohio Basketball Club
What they’re saying about Tysean Powell – Chris Johnson/ Hoop Scoop: “He’s a real long, lean kid. Long arms. He’s a stretch four. He’s athletic enough and quick enough to guard threes. He’s never really rebounded well for his length. Hopefully he put on some weight and got a little tougher. If he adds toughness, he’s got the length and athleticism.”
Jordan Stevens Jr. G 6-0, 190 Columbia MO/Rock Bridge/Southeastern CC
Was one of 10 players named a first team NJCAA Division-I All-American after averaging a team-high 19.2 points per game for 25-7 Southeastern in 2013-14 … SCC, which climbed as high as No. 12 in the NJCAA poll, finished ranked No. 17 … averaged 24.1 ppg. in conference play … was the top scorer in NJCAA Region XI … shot .462 from the field, including .333 (50-of-150) from 3-point … was 34-of-43 (.783) from the foul line … averaged 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game … scored in double digits in 25 of the 30 games he played … totaled 20 or more points 12 times and topped the 30-point mark on five occasions … all five 30-point games came in his final 11 outings … had 31 in a home win over then-No. 5 ranked Indian Hills, 37 at Iowa Western and 36 at Northeast … scored a season-high 38 points in a season-ending 93-89 loss at Indian Hills which was ranked No. 1 at the time … had 34 points, including five 3-pointers, seven rebounds and five assists in his second-to-last game on Feb. 26 vs. Iowa Western … was named the NJCAA Division I Player of the Week after leading SCC to mid-January wins over Marshalltown and Indian Hills … hit three or more 3-pointers in a game 10 times … handed out a season-high five assists twice … finished the year with 70 assists, 58 turnovers and 29 steals … was an honorable mention all-american after averaging 19.0 ppg. (21.0 ppg. in conference play) for the 23-10 Blackhawks as a freshman … scored a career-high 41 points in a 104-99 double overtime loss to Indian Hills … finished the year with 67 3-pointers … led the team in scoring, assists (2.4 apg.) and steals (1.5 spg.) … was named first team all-region … helped SCC to the region final in both of his season in West Burlington. In high school averaged 12.9 ppg. in 15 games for Rock Bridge High (Columbia, Mo.) after transferring in from Hickman HS at the start of the second semester … made his debut during the Smith-Cotton Classic and was named MVP of the tournament … helped Rock Bridge to a 24-5 record and its sixth district title in seven years … was named Class 5 all-district … scored 18 points in a season-ending loss to Nixa in the Class 5 state quarterfinal.
Marshall Macheledt Fr. F 6-8, 250 Greensboro, NC/Greensboro Day School
Averaged 6.0 ppg. after transferring in from Caldwell Academy prior to his senior year … helped GDS to a 30-4 record and an appearance in the NCISSA 3A private school state championship game … averaged 16.0 points and 12.0 rebounds as a junior at 2A Caldwell where he was named all-conference and offensive MVP … was a co-captain as a junior … his high point game at Caldwell was 33 … also had 30 rebounds in a game against High Point Christian … blocked six shots against Greensboro Day School as a junior.
What they’re saying about Marshall Macheledt – Jamie Shaw/ Phenom Hoop Report: “Macheledt is a skilled post player with IQ in the paint. He has touch over both shoulders and a willingness to mix it up a bit.”
Jordan Robinson Fr. F 6-8, 250 Toronto, ONT/Quality Education Academy (N.C.)
Averaged 18.0 points, 14.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks as a senior … shot 52 percent from the field and 86 percent from the foul line for 23-6 QEA … was named first team all-conference by the Greater Carolina High School Athletic Association (GCHSAA) … averaged 12.0 points and 14.5 rebounds per game as a junior for a Fighting Pharaohs team that won the National Christian School Athletic Association National Championship.
Played for Canada in the 2012 U17 World Championships at Kaunas, Lithuania … averaged 3.8 points and 3.1 rebounds in seeing action in all eight games for fifth-place Canada (5-3) … had eight points and six rebounds in 20 minutes of a 69-63 overtime win over Lithuania … pulled down a team high-tying seven boards in 18 minutes of an 84-79 victory over Argentina … also participated in the 2011 U16 Americas Championships in Cancun, Mexico … averaged 5.2 points and 7.0 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per game for the bronze medalists … was the team’s second-leading rebounder … had a game-high 11 boards vs. Chile … posed 11 more rebounds in a win over Mexico … had 10 points and nine rebounds against Puerto Rico. Played AAU ball for CIA Bounce
Mar’Qywell Jackson Fr. G 6-5, 185 Detroit, MI/East English Village Prep Academy /UTEP
Played as a freshman and sophomore at Detroit Crockett before the school closed, leading to his enrollment at East English Village Prep … averaged double digits in each of his four high school seasons including 26.4 ppg. as a senior … also averaged 10.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.2 blocks per game in his final season … scored a career-high 40 points against Warren Cousino … pulled down a career-best 18 rebounds against Detroit Southeastern … was named second team Class A all-state as a senior … was ranked 53rd on the 2014 Hoop Scoop Top 100 … named to the five-man 2014 All-Detroit team by the Detroit Free Press … was rated as the No. 6 player in the state of Michigan by 247sports.com. Signed a National Letter of Intent with UTEP and attended classes there in the summer of 2014 before deciding to transfer … was named a 3-star recruit by Scout.com & Rivals.com … played AAU ball for the Detroit Stars
What they’re saying about Mar’Qywell Jackson – Steve Schwanda/ All Eyes on Hoops: “A great late pickup here for Duquesne. Strong, skilled and athletic, Jackson can handle it a little, shoots it well enough from the outside while also being able to score inside against guys not as strong or athletic as he is.”
Biographical information courtesy of Duquesne Dukes athletics.
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