Possible Transfer
Sept 2, 2006 14:27:20 GMT -5
Post by Fastbreak on Sept 2, 2006 14:27:20 GMT -5
Sep. 1, 2006, 5:23 PM ET
Former Siena guard Mensah enrolls at Duquesne
Associated Press
PITTSBURGH -- Kojo Mensah, a high-scoring guard whose departure from Siena turned acrimonious when the school wouldn't release him from his scholarship, enrolled at Duquesne on Friday.
Mensah is paying his own way for the 2006-07 school year and will not be part of the basketball team. He can play during the 2007-08 season and would have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Mensah becomes the second productive player to transfer to Duquesne since coach Ron Everhart was hired in March. Shawn James, a 6-foot-10 inside player and the nation's leading shot blocker last season, followed Everhart from Northeastern and also must sit out this season.
James and Mensah are former high school and AAU teammates who had always wanted to play together in college, and now will get the chance -- even if it won't be for another 14 months.
"Shawn was a great influence on me coming to Pittsburgh and being at Duquesne," Mensah told The Associated Press on Friday. "He told me when he got here this summer he feel immediately like he was at home, and comfortable in school, and that made me want to come here."
Mensah also was influenced by James' close relationship with Everhart, who rebuilt programs at McNeese State and Northeastern before being hired by Duquesne, which is coming off a 3-24 season.
"Shawn told me that you can talk to him like he's a regular guy," Mensah said.
Mensah, a 6-foot-1 guard, averaged 16.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game last season as Siena finished 15-13. However, Mensah considered changing schools after a coaching change was made following the 2004-05 season, then decided to leave school last spring.
Siena did not renew Mensah's scholarship but also declined to release him from it, prompting Mensah to hire an attorney to help guide his departure.
"I'm disappointed in his decision," Siena coach Fran McCaffery said in a school-issued statement. "It's clear he's being misled by someone not looking out for his best interests. This is the unfortunate part of today's college basketball environment."
sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2569287
Former Siena guard Mensah enrolls at Duquesne
Associated Press
PITTSBURGH -- Kojo Mensah, a high-scoring guard whose departure from Siena turned acrimonious when the school wouldn't release him from his scholarship, enrolled at Duquesne on Friday.
Mensah is paying his own way for the 2006-07 school year and will not be part of the basketball team. He can play during the 2007-08 season and would have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Mensah becomes the second productive player to transfer to Duquesne since coach Ron Everhart was hired in March. Shawn James, a 6-foot-10 inside player and the nation's leading shot blocker last season, followed Everhart from Northeastern and also must sit out this season.
James and Mensah are former high school and AAU teammates who had always wanted to play together in college, and now will get the chance -- even if it won't be for another 14 months.
"Shawn was a great influence on me coming to Pittsburgh and being at Duquesne," Mensah told The Associated Press on Friday. "He told me when he got here this summer he feel immediately like he was at home, and comfortable in school, and that made me want to come here."
Mensah also was influenced by James' close relationship with Everhart, who rebuilt programs at McNeese State and Northeastern before being hired by Duquesne, which is coming off a 3-24 season.
"Shawn told me that you can talk to him like he's a regular guy," Mensah said.
Mensah, a 6-foot-1 guard, averaged 16.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game last season as Siena finished 15-13. However, Mensah considered changing schools after a coaching change was made following the 2004-05 season, then decided to leave school last spring.
Siena did not renew Mensah's scholarship but also declined to release him from it, prompting Mensah to hire an attorney to help guide his departure.
"I'm disappointed in his decision," Siena coach Fran McCaffery said in a school-issued statement. "It's clear he's being misled by someone not looking out for his best interests. This is the unfortunate part of today's college basketball environment."
sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2569287