Duquesne makes change in the frontcourt, landing former Pitt center John Hugley

After finishing 13-19 in his first year as head coach, Dru Joyce and Duquesne have some work to do to build the roster back toward Atlantic 10 contention. When the portal opened, the team lost a pair of rotation pieces in point guard Kareem Rozier and forward Matus Hronsky.

Yet early in the portal season, the Dukes hadn’t landed anyone. That changed a few days ago when they landed Xavier transfer center, John Hugley. He’s a 6’9 and 240-pound center who produced just 2.9 ppg in 10 mpg off the bench this past season. However, Hugley also averaged 8.4 ppg in the year prior at Oklahoma, along with a career-high 14.8 ppg and 7.9 rpg in 2022 at Pittsburgh. 

Although he’s dealt with injuries, the hope for Duquesne is that Hugley can be the interior offensive threat the team hasn’t had in a while. Last season, the Dukes ranked 310th in baskets made inside the arc, and the three-man center rotation (Eli Wilborn, David Dixon, and Chabi Barre) combined to average around 15 ppg through 40 minutes inside. 

While Hugley could be considered an upgrade at the center position, it didn't come without cost. Since his commitment, both Wilborn and Barre have elected to enter the portal, leaving Dixon as the only one returning big. 

Wilborn, a 6’9 big man who originally transferred in from Saint Francis, started 13 games and had some big performances down the stretch, including 14 points and six rebounds in a win over George Mason. However, he was also a definite foul magnet, averaging a whopping 7.7 fouls per 40 minutes. There’s a chance that he could’ve had a big junior campaign for the Dukes, but Hugley represents a safer option.

While the defense has been a strength, Duquesne’s offense has ranked toward the bottom of the A-10 for the past two years. Signing Hugley and blowing up the center rotation indicates the staff looking to change that weakness. 

Let’s see who they add and/or subtract next.