Dukes' Roster Has Open Space

Wednesday afternoon's announcements moved some more chairs on Duquesne's probable 2008-09 season roster. Here is where the Dukes are, as of today:

The spring announcements (UPDATED):

• Junior Shawn James declares for the 2008 NBA draft and signs with agent.
• Fellow junior transfer Kojo Mensah declares for the 2008 NBA draft without hiring an agent, thereby leaving open a return to the Bluff.
• Sophomore Stephen Wood transfers.
• Two recruits, B.J. Monteiro and Chase Robinson, sign National Letters of Intent (NLIs).
• One recruit, Johnny Higgins, is released from the NLI he signed last November.
• All-rookie team Damian Saunders has ankle surgery, will be out at least four months (early September).

There are 10 known scholarship players on the roster, 11 if Mensah returns. Two --- or three --- scholarships remain for 2008-09 season.

- DEPARTURES (5)
Kieron Achara	F/C	6-10 240
Reggie Jackson	G	5-11 170
Shawn James	F/C	6-10 225
Gary Tucker	G	6-1 185
Stephen Wood	G/F	6-4 185
? UNDECIDED (1)
Kojo Mensah	G	6-1 180	SR
+ SCHOLARSHIP RETURNEES (5)
Bill Clark	G/F	6-5 205	SO
Phillip Fayne	G	6-3 220	SR
Aaron Jackson	G	6-4 180	SR
Damian Saunders	F	6-7 205	SO
David Theis	F	6-8 215	SO
+ NON-SCHOLARSHIP RETURNEES (4)
Jason Duty	G	6-0 170	JR
Brandon Harris	F/C	6-9 230	RS-FR
Lucas Newton	G	5-10 165	RS-SO
Jimmy Sherwood	F	6-2 190	JR
+ RECRUITS (5)
* Ali Djim	F	6-8 225
Erik Evans	F	5-10 175	NLI
B.J. Monteiro	G/F	6-5 180	NLI
Shawntez Patterson	F	6-7 180	NLI
Chase Robinson	G	6-3 190	NLI

Note: * Djim signed a scholarship agreement, sometimes referred to as an institutional letter, which doesn't have all the contractional features in an NLI.

To be continued, etc., ....