Until now, Steve McNees was the one fall signee who was expected to still come to Duquesne after the coaching change.
After meeting with DU's new head coach Ron Everhart on Friday, McNees asked for a release from the National Letter of Intent he signed with Duquesne and Coach Danny Nee in Novembe 2005.
His father, Bill McNees, told the Tribune-Review:
"We just weren't real comfortable with the situation. They still wanted Steve to come to Duquesne. We just thought our best thing for Steve was to get his release and look at other options. There will be a lot of interest in him, I'm sure."
McNees, who played in the West Penn Roundball Classic Saturday at Geneva College on Saturday, was also recruited by Akron, Eastern Kentucky, James Madison, Kent State and Wright State.
Bill McNees, after 25 years of coaching at Shenango High School, retired following this season so he would have some time when his son played college basketball. He recorded 312 victories with the New Castle, Pa. program.
All three players who signed NLI's in the fall have asked to be released from the contract. Coach Everhart met with Hernol Hall, a highly regarded JUCO center from Costa Rico, this week at Lon Morris College in Texas and has talked to Antonio DiMaria, a 6-foot-6 swingman from Bishop Canevin High School in Pittsburgh.
It's a busy time at the Bluff. Reported to be visiting the Dukes this weekend are 6-7 forward Stuard Baldonado of Miami-Dade Community College, 5-7 point guard Benny Valentine of Howard College in Big Springs, Texas, and 6-2 guard Destin Damachoua of The Masters School (HS) in West Simsbury, Connecticut.
Duquesne has up to seven scholarships available for the Class of 2006, which includes the slot vacated by sophomore Chauncey Duke, who wants to transfer closer to his home in Missouri.
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