Atlantic 10 Basketball: Breaking down each program’s 2018 recruiting class

Duquesne Dukes

The Dukes have a difficult situation to navigate when it comes to their roster. On their official website, they currently have eighteen players listed. Three of those players are walk-ons, but that still leaves fifteen players – two more than there are athletic scholarships available for. Regardless of the scholarship questions, however, one thing is certain: the Dukes are extremely deep.

Of the players listed on the official roster, eight of them are incoming freshman. Perhaps what’s most notable about them as a group is their length – five of them are at least 6’9″. The most highly-touted of the group is 3-star center Dylan Swingle, who chose the Dukes over West Virginia. Swingle is a 275-pound monster in the post with soft hands and capable footwork. An apt comparison for A10 fans might be UMass’ Rashaan Holloway. Expect to see Swingle getting heavy minutes, if not starting in the post for Coach Dambrot. The same can be said for his fellow 3-star big men Gavin Bizeau (6’11”) and Austin Rotroff (6’9″).

Amari Kelly (also 6’9″) isn’t as highly touted as the other bigs, but the program is excited about his quickness and interior defensive ability. Rounding out the incoming frontcourt is Pittsburgh-native James Ellis (6’11”), whose wingspan easily eclipses the 7’0″ mark. Ultimately, no matter who among the bigs up seeing the most minutes, the Dukes will have no problems covering the block for years to come.

Outside of the post players, other freshman who are poised for at least rotational minutes are Lamar Norman Jr. – the #10 player coming out of Michigan and a guy who can throw down momentum-changing dunks, and Brandon Wade, a steady point guard who will handle relief duty for Mike Lewis II. Sincere Carry, an under the radar guard whose only D1 offer was Duquesne, completes the class – by far the largest in the A10.