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Post by Class of '83 on Sept 17, 2006 21:08:54 GMT -5
Five Duquesne players shot Three remain hospitalized; one in critical condition September 17, 2006 PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Five Duquesne basketball players were shot on campus early Sunday, leaving at least one critically injured, after some of them tried to calm a man who apparently had been disruptive at a dance, officials said. Police searched for the gunman, and the downtown school stepped up its round-the-clock police protection with armed university police officers guarding dormitories and other buildings. Two players had been walking near a dormitory when they encountered a man who apparently had been disruptive at a student union dance, authorities said. The players attempted to pacify him and walked away but were shot. Players who rushed to their aid were also shot. The gunman and a group of people with him were not students, university president Charles Dougherty said. Several witnesses saw the gunman leave campus after the shots were fired. In critical condition at Mercy Hospital was forward Sam Ashaolu of Toronto, a transfer from Lake Region State College and a cousin of former Houston Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon. In serious condition was Stuard Baldonado of Colombia, a transfer from Miami Dade College who was considered the school's best recruit. Also taken to Mercy Hospital was Kojo Mensah, a guard from New York City who averaged nearly 17 points last season at Siena College before transferring, school officials said at a news conference Sunday. His condition was not released. Treated and released were Shawn James of New York City, the nation's leading shot blocker last season at Northeastern University before transferring to Duquesne; and Aaron Jackson of Hartford, Conn., a guard who is one of only two returning players from Duquesne's 3-24 team last season. Witnesses reported seeing two guns, Dougherty said, but he couldn't confirm whether both were fired. The second gun was seen on someone in a group with the gunman, Dougherty said. Six to 12 shots were fired, he said. He did not know what sparked the violence. "What motive can there be for unloading a pistol into a group of students?" Dougherty said. James, an NBA prospect expected to be Duquesne's top player when he becomes eligible in the 2007-08 season, was shot in the foot but no bones were broken. Mensah was believed shot in the shoulder. Jackson was shot in the hand. "The entire Duquesne University community is saddened and shocked," Dougherty said. "We're shocked because an event of this sort has never happened. It's a safe campus and known to be a safe campus." At the school's regular Sunday night Mass, the Rev. Timothy Hickey, director of campus ministry, asked more than 300 students in the packed chapel to pray for the victims "as we come together we acknowledge our shock and sadness about what happened here." "Their healing is our utmost concern," Hickey said. "We are a tight-knit community and what affects one of us affects all of us. we are family and we care for one another. Students wrestled with how the shootings could affect the reputation of their campus, long considered safe. Freshman Harold Kolonich, walking with his parents near the campus Sunday night, had few worries. "I still trust the atmosphere. Duquesne is still a safe campus," he said. "It's unfortunate stuff like that happens. It's a wonderful place to be." Duquesne coach Ron Everhart, formerly at Northeastern, had rebuilt the school's program after being hired in March by bringing in 10 recruits -- one of the most sweeping upheavals of any Division I program in recent years. Duquesne University is a private Catholic university with nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/basketball/ncaa/09/17/bc.bkc.duquesne.shooting.ap/index.html?eref=yahoo
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Post by Class of '83 on Sept 17, 2006 21:11:05 GMT -5
Five Duquesne basketball players shot on campus; one critical Sunday, September 17, 2006 By Bill Schackner, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Five Duquesne University basketball players were shot and wounded after a dance on campus early this morning. Two of the men were in critical condition, according to city police investigators. The most seriously injured student was 6-foot-7 forward Sam Ashaolu, a transfer from Lake Region Community College in North Dakota and a cousin of former Houston Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon. He was in critical condition at Mercy Hospital. Two other players, remained hospitalized. They were Stuard Baldonado, a 6-7 transfer from Miami Dade College who was in serious condition at Mercy Hospital, and Kojo Mensah, a transfer Siena College who was admitted to UPMC Presbyterian. Two other players were treated and released. They are Aaron Jackson, a guard who is one of only two returning players from Duquesne's 3-24 team of last season, and Shawn James, who transferred from Northeastern University. "We are a community of faith and so our first instinct, our first response, is prayer for those who have been wounded and prayer for their families," University President Charles J. Dougherty said at a news conference this afternoon. The parents of Mr. Ashaolu arrived today from Toronto to be with their son, Mr. Dougherty said. Pittsburgh police said they were looking for a suspect, described as a black man, about 5 feet, 4 inches tall and wearing a white T-shirt. The shooting occurred about 2:15 this morning on the campus near Vickroy Hall. The five basketball players had been at a dance at the Duquesne Union. The suspect was among a group of four or five other people, none of whom were believed to be students at the university, who also were at the dance. Soon after the dance ended, the two groups ran into each other outside Vickroy Hall. It was there that one member of the second group pulled a gun and fired between six and 12 times, the bullets striking the basketball players, police said. Mr. Dougherty said no problems were reported during the dance, which was sponsored by the Black Student Union and attended by about 200 people. The shooting suspect was last seen running toward Forbes Avenue. Mr. Dougherty said additional campus police officers had been stationed at all residence halls and that the university was providing counseling for students. Mr. Dougherty said the wounded players were victims. "They had nothing to do by way of provoking it," he said. Asked what could have been a motive for the shooting, Mr. Dougherty responded, "What motive could there have been for unloading a pistol into a group of students?" The shooting occurred as the university was in the process of rebuilding its basketball program. Newly hired coach Ron Everhart, who came from Northeastern University in Boston, brought in many new players this year. But Athletic Director Greg Amodio said officials were concerned only with the health and safety of their players. "At this point, we're not even considering the ramifications to the basketball program," he said. Anyone with information is asked to call the city homicide detectives at 412-323-7161. www.post-gazette.com/pg/06260/722679-53.stm
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Post by Fastbreak on Sept 17, 2006 21:58:33 GMT -5
Didn't Scott Grote sign with Duquesne over WSU this year? I'm glad to see his name wasn't on the list of players injured.
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Post by Willie on Sept 17, 2006 22:09:12 GMT -5
I bet Ronnie Thomas won't second guess his decision to leave Duquesne for Wright State.
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Post by Doliboabros on Sept 18, 2006 7:57:20 GMT -5
Coach says he's proud of players' responses after crisisSunday, September 17, 2006 By Phil Axelrod, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Duquesne University hired Ron Everhart earlier this year to rebuild its sagging basketball program. He learned a few things about his new team today, after five of its members were shot in an early-morning incident on campus following a dance. Mr. Everhart said a number of the players tried to keep other people out of danger at the scene of the shootings and applied tourniquets to their injured teammates. "I told every one of them how proud I was of them as a team, the way they responded to this tragic event," Mr. Everhart said last night. "This was a tremendous testament to the character of the kids, all the kids at Duquesne. It was very moving to watch them handle themselves." Mr. Everhart and Athletic Director Greg Amodio spent much of yesterday checking on the five players who were shot and contacting their relatives. In addition, Mr. Everhart met at Mercy Hospital with other members of the team, some of whom also were at the dance. "They were very shaken by the whole incident. Many of them were in the group at the dance, and it dawned on them they could be there [in the hospital] just as the guys who were shot," Mr. Amodio said. "We wanted to be as reassuring as possible and make sure they knew that Duquesne University was there to support them." Junior-college transfers Sam Ashaolu was in critical condition and Stuard Baldonado was in serious condition at Mercy. Kojo Mensah, another player who transferred to Duquesne this year, was being held at UPMC Presbyterian for observation. Sophomore Aaron Jackson and transfer Shawn James were treated for minor wounds. Mr. Everhart said the experience had been "very emotional for me because I recruited these kids. It's a very hard thing to deal with. I am very tired, but very concerned. My only concern right now is for the kids and their families." Mr. Amodio said plans were being made to help parents and guardians of the wounded players travel to Pittsburgh. "Obviously, they were shocked by the news," Mr. Amodio said. "We want to make this as easy on them as possible in such a difficult situation." Mr. Amodio said Duquesne University was making counseling available to the basketball team and to all students. "We want to move forward and not be paralyzed by the events," Mr. Amodio said. "We want to get back to normalcy as soon as possible.'' Mr. Baldonado, a 6-foot-7 junior power forward and a native of San Andres, Colombia, was considered by recruiting experts to be the most prized recruit in Everhart's incoming class. He was expected to provide rebounding and scoring punch around the basket. Mr. Ashaolu, a 6-7 junior, can play either forward position. James, a shot-blocking specialist, transferred from Northeastern University, where he played as a freshman and sophomore under Mr. Everhart. Mr. Mensah, a 6-2 guard who blossomed last season as a sophomore to average 16.3 points at Siena College, is at Duquesne without a scholarship. He can practice with the team this season and will receive a scholarship in 2007-08. Mr. Jackson, a 6-3 sophomore, is one of only two returnees from last year's 3-24 team that set a school record for losses in a season. The absence of any of these players for an extended period will set back Mr. Everhart's almost total reconstruction of a program that has experienced 19 losing seasons in the past 20. Mr. Everhart, who rebuilt programs at Northeastern and McNeese State prior to coming to Duquesne this spring, was counting on having 14 players -- 12 recruits and two returnees -- available for the first day of practice Oct. 13. Along with Mr. Jackson, the only returnee from former coach Danny Nee's team is 6-9 junior Kieron Achara, who sat out last season with a shoulder injury. Mr. Jackson started 21 games last season as a freshman. Five other players on last year's team transferred after Mr. Everhart replaced Mr. Nee as head coach -- DeVario Hudson, Chauncey Duke, Ronnie Thomas, Sean McKeon and Brian Kelly. Mr. Achara, who has shed 20 pounds during his rehabilitation, is expected to challenge for a starting job at either center or power forward, and Mr. Jackson could emerge as the starting point guard. If Mr. Ashaolu and Mr. Baldonado are unavailable, the only two players on Duquesne's roster taller than 6-6 will be Achara and 6-9, 255-pound Almany Thiero, a transfer from Memphis. The majority of Duquesne's players are between 6-3 and 6-6 and can play either guard or forward. Mr. Thiero, a graduate student at Duquesne with one season of eligibility, had an injury-riddled career at Memphis under John Calipari. Mr. Thiero took advantage of a new NCAA rule that allows players to transfer and play immediately for one season as a graduate student if they received an undergraduate degree in four years and have eligibility remaining. www.post-gazette.com/pg/06260/722711-135.stm
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Post by wsu97 on Sept 18, 2006 9:45:09 GMT -5
Didn't Scott Grote sign with Duquesne over WSU this year? I'm glad to see his name wasn't on the list of players injured. Scott did sign with the Dukes. Fortunately he wasn't one of the players injured.
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Post by Willie on Sept 19, 2006 17:58:04 GMT -5
Arrests made in Duquesne shootingsTwo arrestes made, warrant issued for a third suspect September 19, 2006 PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Police charged two men Tuesday with shooting five Duquesne University basketball players after a school dance, and they accused a 19-year-old sophomore of helping six men into the dance despite knowing some were armed. Brandon Baynes, 18, was arraigned on five counts of criminal attempt at homicide. Prosecutors also filed charges of aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy, and weapons counts and him and William Holmes, 18, who was still being sought, and a reckless endangerment charge against Holmes. Three players remained hospitalized following Sunday's shootings after the dance. The most seriously wounded, junior forward Sam Ashaolu, 23, was in critical condition with bullet fragments in his head. Brittany Jones, accused of helping get some young men with guns into the party, was arrested Monday on charges of reckless endangerment, carrying a firearm without a license and criminal conspiracy. She was arraigned and posted bond Tuesday morning. According to the criminal complaint, Jones -- who is active with the Black Student Union, which sponsored the dance -- got a call from a man asking whether he and his brother could attend. They arrived with four others about midnight. While walking to the party, Jones told police, she became aware that several of the men had guns, authorities said. They asked Jones if they were going to be "patted down" before entering, officials said. The doorman reportedly told Jones partygoers weren't being searched, and the men went into the dance, police said. It wasn't immediately clear whether Baynes and Holmes were part of the group. Police Cmdr. Thomas Stangrecki did not take questions at a news conference announcing the charges against the men. According to the criminal complaint against Baynes, a witness who was at the dance reported hearing an argument and saw two men firing guns at the victims. Using driver's license photos, the witness identified one of the men as Baynes. Baynes did not speak during the brief court hearing. His father, though, said the teen was not guilty. "My son never fired a gun in his life," A.J. Baynes said. Sumner Parker, an attorney representing Baynes, denied that his client was the gunman but said that Baynes had identified the shooter in a statement to police. Parker said Baynes had gone to the dance with three of his friends, but no members of the group were involved in the shooting. In interviews Monday with The Associated Press, several players said the shooter was a non-student unhappy that the woman he accompanied to the dance had talked with a player. The shooter and at least one other man followed the players when they left the dance to walk to their dormitory, they said. Jones' attorney, James Ecker, would not confirm Tuesday whether she was cooperating with authorities and would not comment on reports that authorities may drop charges if she provides information to the police. "I can say she's spent a lot of time with police in the last couple of days, Sunday and Monday," Ecker said. "Until this case goes to a hearing or trial, she's presumed innocent," he said. University president Charles Dougherty said he was grateful to police for the "swift arrest of the individual who may have been the shooter in the vicious attacks on Duquesne University students last Sunday morning." Besides Ashaolu, the other injured players were junior guard Kojo Mensah, 21; 6-foot-7 forward Stuard Baldonado, 21; junior center Shawn James, 23; and Aaron Jackson, 20, a guard who is one of only two returning players from Duquesne's 3-24 team last season. Ashaolu remained in critical condition Tuesday with a bullet, shattered into three pieces, in his head. Baldonado was in fair condition Tuesday with arm and back injuries; he likely won't play this season because his back injury will require two to three months of rehabilitation. He was expected to be released from the hospital by the end of the week. Mensah, shot in an arm and shoulder, was kept at a hospital to receive additional injections of antibiotics but was expected to be discharged later Tuesday. In an interview with The Associated Press on Monday, Jackson said he and teammate Stephen Wood dropped to the ground when shots rang out. Mensah, Baldonado and Ashaolu were the first players hit in the attack. James was wounded on the foot but escaped by running across the football field. sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/basketball/ncaa/09/19/duquense.arrest.ap/index.html
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Post by Willie on Sept 19, 2006 18:06:06 GMT -5
Duquesne shootings evoke sadness, anger, not surprise Sep. 19, 2006 By Gary Parrish CBS SportsLine.com As of Tuesday morning, Duquesne's Sam Ashaolu remained hospitalized, attached to tubes, battling and suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. And for what? Because he hugged a girl with a jealous boyfriend? Because he went to a dance on campus? Because he's a basketball player? Because he's unlucky? Any of those options make as much -- or as little -- sense as the others. But more likely, this is merely another example of young men living a movie, one in which there's not a problem that can't be solved with a car chase, thrown knife to the chest or a round of sporadic bullets into the air. Thing is, in the movies somebody yells "cut" and everybody hops right up. But in real life -- in Pittsburgh, this time -- nobody hops up. If you're lucky, you limp off. If you're not, you end up on a ventilator, eyes closed with life or death very much in the balance. It would be nice to write something different on this matter, use paragraph after paragraph to explain how this is unbelievable and impossible to fathom. But the truth is that what happened at Duquesne over the weekend isn't unbelievable or impossible to fathom because it happens almost every day. Somewhere. Only difference this time is that multiple basketball players are the victims. So the act is forced into the consciousness of America, and now out-of-touch suburbanites are reading the story of how five players were shot and wondering what these crazy kids are doing to each other. The answer: Same thing they were doing to each other yesterday. And the day before. And the day before. Sometimes bad people get shot. Sometimes good people get shot. Sometimes nobody gets shot. But make no mistake, people are always on the verge of getting shot on the streets of every major city in this country. It's a culture that starts in the poorest neighborhoods as some sort of warped badge of power, and it can't help but bleed its way into college athletics every once in a while, because even when players aren't carrying guns -- and there is no indication any of the Duquesne players were -- it's possible the guys they have a disagreement with are packing, sometimes even semi-automatic weapons. So nobody should be shocked. Be sad. Be scared. Be furious. But don't be surprised. We've actually been flirting with a disaster like this a lot lately. Two weeks ago, Texas football player Tarell Brown was arrested with a loaded handgun in his lap. Three weeks before that, Arizona State dismissed basketball player Bryson Krueger after he was arrested for gun possession while a search of his car uncovered enough drugs for a Hunter S. Thompson road trip. According to reports, Krueger was threatening a man over a $250 debt, which is what led to a call to police and the subsequent arrest. A freaking $250 debt!?! Seriously? That's what can get you shot these days? Alas, there's more. Former Virginia Tech football player Marcus Vick was charged with pulling a gun on three teenagers earlier this year. Former Ohio State football player Maurice Clarett had four guns -- and a bulletproof vest -- when he was arrested last month. Alabama football player Juwan Simpson was busted carrying a handgun without a permit in May. USC basketball player Ryan Francis was shot and killed a week prior to that. Miami football player Willie Cooper was shot in the buttocks in July. His teammate, Brandon Meriweather, happened to have a gun in his pants. So naturally, he pulled it and fired back three times. A few days later, Miami coach Larry Coker said he would discourage his players from carrying guns. Smart move, I think. But now Coker appears on his way out the door because he can't win football games, so we're about to lose one of the good guys, and that's too bad. The good news -- for society and Brown and Krueger and Clarett and Simpson -- is that police caught Brown and Krueger and Clarett and Simpson before they used their guns and ruined not only somebody else's life, but also their own. The bad news -- for society and Francis and, most recently, Duquesne -- is that police can't be everywhere all the time. So by the sheer law of averages, tragedies like this are bound to materialize just like recruiting scandals and upset wins, though with much bigger stakes. It makes no sense. But it's far from a surprise. More than anything, though, it's just sad. Terribly and painfully sad. www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/9670974
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Post by keithfromxenia on Sept 20, 2006 11:22:27 GMT -5
i don't know much about everhart as a coach but he sure did a job recruiting to bring in 12 players. maybe some of those were a commitment to coach nee, i don't know. but to have a full roster plus 1, with only two returning players is something. some of them appear to be pretty good quality too. GO RAIDERS!1
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Post by Big D on Sept 22, 2006 18:03:59 GMT -5
Sep. 22, 2006 Duquesne's Ashaolu upgraded, Baldonado releasedAssociated Press PITTSBURGH -- Duquesne University forward Sam Ashaolu, one of five basketball players shot after a campus dance last weekend, was upgraded from critical to serious condition Friday and has begun to speak softly. Ashaolu, the most seriously injured of the Dukes players, is the only one who remains hospitalized. Stuard Baldonado, a junior forward shot in the left arm and back, was released from Mercy Hospital late Friday afternoon -- hours before his parents arrived from Colombia. "It's unbelievable the progress they're making," coach Ron Everhart told The Associated Press. Family members said Ashaolu, sedated for much of the week, asked Thursday night about two of his brothers -- the first words he is known to have spoken since being shot early Sunday morning. He also recognized himself, and a brother, while watching TV news accounts of the shooting. Ashaolu initially asked about 17-year-old brother Olu, a high school junior in Texas who is considered one of the nation's top basketball players in the class of 2008. Ashaolu's condition was upgraded less than a week after he was shot twice in the head -- with one bullet splintering into several sections. The bullet fragments remain because it would be too risky to try to remove them due to the severe swelling from the wounds. But doctors did remove a ventilator that was aiding Ashaolu's breathing and a drain that was guiding fluids from his head. Doctors who spoke to Duquesne officials said both developments were significant given how badly Ashaolu was hurt. Earlier in the week, Everhart said Ashaolu was fighting for his life. "I think I'm witnessing a miracle," Everhart said. "That he could make such progress so quickly is unbelievable. These are things the doctors were hoping for in two to three weeks." Because Ashaolu still has bullet fragments in his head, doctors are not yet ready to make a prognosis for his recovery. If he should somehow be bumped or if the fragments would shift, there is a possibility he could regress. "But we've seen nothing but progress," Everhart said. "This shows you what a fighter Sam is, and what tough shape he's in. The fact he is stable is a very big relief. We're not out of the woods yet, but everything in the last 72 hours has been very uplifting." Ashaolu, Shawn James, Aaron Jackson, Kojo Mensah and Baldonado were shot as they returned to their dormitories and apartments following the dance. All but Jackson were new players who had arrived on campus only in the last few weeks. Baldonado initially was listed in serious condition but was upgraded to fair Monday. A day later, he had a bullet removed from a patch of muscle just below the skin in his back. His mother and father, who live on an island off the coast of Colombia, were due in town Friday night and will stay with the former Miami Dade College player as he continues his rehabilitation. Duquesne won't say Baldonado will miss the season, but back injuries like his normally take two to three months of rehabilitation. Arrested and charged in the shootings earlier this week were William Holmes and Brandon Baynes, both 18 and of the Pittsburgh suburb of Penn Hills. According to a criminal complaint, Brittany Jones, a 19-year-old Penn Hills resident, helped six men -- several of whom she knew were carrying guns -- to gain admission to a Black Student Union dance on Duquesne's campus. Jones was a Duquesne student -- the two men were not -- but was suspended from school after she was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, carrying a firearm without a license and criminal conspiracy. She was released after posting $2,000 bail. Bail was set at $250,000 for Baynes. It has not been posted, and he remains in jail. Holmes was denied bail. The shootings took place early Sunday shortly after the dance ended when, according to AP interviews with two players, several of the non-students apparently became upset when Jones began flirting with one of the Dukes players. Several players have needed counseling after complaining they were unable to sleep well. On Wednesday, the team resumed offseason conditioning drills, and Everhart was pleased with how the players responded to being back on the court. "I think it's been very therapeutic for them," he said. sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2598417
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Post by Fastbreak on Sept 25, 2006 17:20:00 GMT -5
Sep. 25, 2006 Bullet piece pulled from head of Duquesne's AshaoluBy Andy Katz ESPN.com Sam Ashaolu, the most seriously injured of the five Duquesne basketball players who were shot on Sept. 17, had a piece of one of the bullets lodged in his head removed Monday. It had been believed that Ashaolu had two bullets in his head, one intact, the other fragmented. Doctors on Monday, however, removed a fragment of the bullet thought to have been intact from his head behind his ear, coach Ron Everhart said. It is now estimated that three bullet fragments remain in Ashaolu's head. Ashaolu continues to have highs and lows, according to Everhart, who spent four hours with him Monday. Ashaolu was moved to a chair to sit upright on Monday, a positive sign in his recovery. Moving Ashaolu to a neurological facility from Mercy Hospital's intensive care unit has been discussed if the forward's condition continues to improve. Stuard Baldonado, another of the players who was shot, will attend his first class Tuesday. Released from Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh on Friday, Baldonado was on campus Monday, sitting and laughing in coach Ron Everhart's office. "He's walking on his own and he may be ready to run some sprints," Everhart said. "He's shaking his head at me right now, but he's really feeling a lot better." The bullet that struck Baldonado, a transfer from Miami-Dade Community College, cracked his vertebrae and will likely prevent him from playing this season. The expected recovery time is 8-to-10 weeks. Kojo Mensah, who was shot in the arm and shoulder and is likely out six to eight weeks, went back to class last Thursday, as did Shawn James, who still has a bullet in his left foot. Both players are transfers -- Mensah from Siena and James from Northeastern -- and aren't eligible to play this season. Mensah, James and Baldonado haven't redshirted before and could take this season as a medical redshirt. Everhart said he will discuss with his compliance department whether this can be a medical redshirt year instead of a conventional redshirt year. But if Mensah, James and Baldonado are all on schedule to play two more seasons healthwise, then it might not be necessary to petition for a sixth season of eligibility when the time comes. Meanwhile, Duquesne is still looking for a game to complete its 2006-07 schedule; in the midst of the chaos the past week, Everhart still needed to add a non-conference game. He said Savannah State is a possibility, but that the Dukes wouldn't play them until the Atlantic 10 conference season has begun. The Dukes are already playing a same-season home-and-home with Northern Illinois because both schools needed games to fill their schedules. Two Pittsburgh-area men and a Duquesne student have been charged in connection with the shootings. sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2602324
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Post by Fastbreak on Sept 28, 2006 18:36:45 GMT -5
Sep. 28, 2006 Charges against man dropped; two more chargedAssociated Press PITTSBURGH -- Prosecutors on Thursday dropped charges against one of two men accused of shooting five Duquesne University basketball players, but filed charges against two additional suspects. All charges were dropped against Brandon Baynes, 18, of Penn Hills, in the Sept. 17 shooting after an on-campus dance party. Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala said Baynes was cleared after a witness recanted her story. He would not identify the witness. Zappala also announced charges against two other people: Derek Lee, of Pittsburgh, and Erica R. Sager, of Wilkinsburg. Lee, who police said is 18 or 19, is accused of shooting at the players. He is charged with five counts each of attempted homicide and aggravated assault. Sager is accused of urging Lee and another teen named William Holmes to "shoot victims during a verbal dispute that she probably initiated," Zappala said. She was charged with five counts of aggravated assault and criminal solicitation. Lee and Sager were arraigned Thursday. Lee was jailed on $1 million bond. It was not immediately clear if Sager posted bond, nor was it known whether either defendant had an attorney. The shooting occurred as the basketball players left the dance. Several players told The Associated Press the shooter was a non-student unhappy that a woman he accompanied to the dance had talked with a player. The most seriously injured player, Sam Ashaolu, remained hospitalized Thursday, three days after doctors removed a bullet fragment from his head. The four other players have returned to campus. Lee and Holmes are the only defendants accused of firing at the players. Holmes, 18, of Penn Hills, was arrested last week and charged with attempted homicide and aggravated assault. A fourth person, Brittany Jones, 19, also of Penn Hills, has been ordered to stand trial on charges she helped six people get into the dance even though she knew some of them were armed. Baynes' public defender, Sumner Parker, said last week that Baynes was present at the shooting but was not responsible for it. Baynes was expected to be released from jail Thursday afternoon. Parker thanked police and prosecutors for keeping an open mind. "I lost a trial fee and I couldn't be happier," he said. sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2606201
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Post by Retired Coach on Oct 3, 2006 8:58:07 GMT -5
Oct. 2, 2006 Duquesne's Ashaolu moved from critical care to rehabAssociated Press PITTSBURGH -- Duquesne forward Sam Ashaolu, the only one of five injured basketball players still hospitalized after last month's shootings, was moved from a critical care unit into rehabilitation Monday. Ashaolu spent several days fighting for his life with multiple gunshot wounds to the head following the Sept. 17 on-campus shootings, but is progressing faster than expected at Mercy Hospital. Doctors initially thought that he would still be on a ventilator at this stage of his recovery. "This is a great sign," Duquesne coach Ron Everhart said Monday. "This is a big step in the right direction. This is terrific news after only two weeks." Ashaolu, a 23-year-old junior college transfer who grew up in Toronto, was shot several weeks after enrolling at Duquesne. Whether he can play basketball again is uncertain, but he is walking with assistance and became increasingly responsive over the weekend following a procedure to clear up a sinus infection. Doctors felt the infection was causing Ashaolu to run a fever, and his temperature has dropped since the procedure was performed. Ashaolu's older brother, John, said Sam was able to talk clearly with younger brother Olu over the weekend after the anesthesia given him during the procedure wore off. "It's the clearest conversation he's had yet," John Ashaolu said. Olu Ashaolu, a 17-year-old high school basketball star in Texas, was especially close to Sam. Family members said the shooting has hit the youngest of the four Ashaolu brothers especially hard. "It was really great they were able to talk because Sam has been asking about him," John Ashaolu said. Doctors are uncertain how long Sam Ashaolu must spend in rehabilitation, but have told Duquesne officials they are pleased with his progress so far. A surgeon removed a bullet fragment from Ashaolu's head on Sept. 25, slightly more than a week after the shootings, but several other fragments remain. The other four injured players have returned to classes, although three -- center Shawn James, guard Kojo Mensah and forward Stuard Baldonado -- still cannot practice as their wounds heal. James and Mensah were ineligible to play this season after transferring from other Division I schools but can practice when they are healed. Duquesne will open preseason practice Oct. 13 without Ashaolu or Baldonado, a 6-7 forward who also transferred from a junior college. Baldonado faces several months of rehabilitation and recovery after being shot in the back and left arm and is likely to be redshirted to preserve his two seasons of eligibility. During their informal preseason workouts, Duquesne players have been wearing wristbands with the number "5," symbolic not only of the number of shooting victims but of the number Ashaolu planned to wear this season. Four people are accused of crimes in the shootings that followed a Black Student Union party at Duquesne. Two -- William Holmes and Derek Lee -- are accused of firing at the players. A suspended Duquesne student, Brittany Jones, is accused of helping the two get into the dance. Another woman, Erica R. Sager, is accused of urging the players be shot. sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2610931
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Post by wsu97 on Oct 12, 2006 18:25:44 GMT -5
Oct. 12, 2006 Duquesne forward Ashaolu walking, talking in hospitalAssociated Press PITTSBURGH -- Duquesne University forward Sam Ashaolu, one of five players shot last month following an on-campus party, has begun walking on his own as he continues to rehabilitate from head injuries caused by multiple gunshot wounds. Ashaolu, the most seriously injured of the five players, is getting out of bed by himself now, walking unaided in Mercy Hospital's rehabilitation unit and has started calling family members on his cell phone. Physicians recently removed a feeding tube, and Ashaolu has been talking -- though softly -- with a number of friends and family members who regularly visit him. Ashaolu, who still has several bullet fragments in his head, also has begun calling his mother and younger brother. "A friend of his was here the other night and began asking Sam math questions -- What is three plus three? What is five times five? And Sam answered them," Duquesne coach Ron Everhart said Wednesday. "We're seeing progress every day." The 23-year-old Ashaolu, from Toronto, Ontario, spent several days fighting for his life following the Sept. 17 on-campus shootings. Whether he can play basketball again is uncertain, but doctors are pleased with his progress since he moved from a critical care unit to the rehabilitation wing two weeks ago. A surgeon removed a bullet fragment from Ashaolu's head on Sept. 25, but several other fragments remain. The other four injured players have returned to classes, although junior forward Stuard Baldonado won't be able to start preseason practice Friday as bullet wounds in his back and left arm continue to heal. Baldonado, a former junior college star who is considered Duquesne's top recruit for this season, is shooting the ball before and after practices but still faces at least another six weeks of rehabilitation and recovery. He is likely to be redshirted this season to preserve his two seasons of major college eligibility. Shawn James, a 6-foot-10 center who led the nation in blocked shots last season for Everhart at Northeastern, had the cast removed from his injured foot and is walking without crutches. He hopes to have the bullet in his foot removed soon. James and former Siena guard Kojo Mensah, who was shot in the left arm and shoulder, weren't eligible this season after transferring from Division I schools. James and Mensah were reunited at Duquesne after previously being teammates in AAU ball and at a prep school. Everhart is looking forward to the start of practice so his players can refocus on basketball and the coming season. "It's going to be therapeutic for everybody," he said. Four people are accused of crimes in the shootings that followed a Black Student Union party at Duquesne. Two -- William Holmes and Derek Lee -- are accused of firing at the players. A suspended Duquesne student, Brittany Jones, is accused of helping the two get into the dance. Another woman, Erica R. Sager, is accused of urging that the players be shot. sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2622114
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Post by Wolf on Oct 25, 2006 19:55:47 GMT -5
Recovering Duquesne player Ashaolu shooting hoops in rehab Oct. 25, 2006 CBS SportsLine.com wire reports PITTSBURGH -- Sam Ashaolu, still hospitalized more than a month after being shot, is shooting a basketball and lifting weights as part of his rehabilitation. Duquesne officials stress the physical work is part of a program to reacquaint the 23-year-old player with familiar aspects of his life and to build up his strength. Ashaolu, a 6-foot-7 power forward, is recovering from multiple gunshot wounds to the head. The most seriously injured of five Duquesne University players shot on campus, Ashaolu nearly died in the hours following the early-morning shootings of Sept. 17. He first wanted to pick up a basketball again several weeks ago. In the past few days, he has been shooting casually at Mercy Hospital, where he is in the brain injury rehabilitation unit. The sessions are part of his rehab and are not designed like those of a structured college basketball practice. "He's making great progress," said Duquesne coach Ron Everhart, who has visited Ashaolu almost daily since the shootings. "We see it every day and are thankful for it." Ashaolu has progressed faster than expected but still faces months -- if not longer -- of recovery and rehabilitation. It remains unclear how severely the shootings impaired his memory and his thinking. His return to basketball and college are very much undetermined. "We're not worried about that," Everhart said. "We just want him to get better." Ashaolu has regained some of the estimated 30 pounds he lost in the first few weeks, and he is exercising almost daily. Although one bullet was removed Sept. 25 after it surfaced behind an ear, he still has fragments of another bullet in his head. He's expected to remain hospitalized for a few more weeks and will need around-the-clock care when he's discharged. Duquesne's other injured players are in various stages of their recoveries. Stuard Baldonado, a 6-7 power forward who was being counted upon for considerable playing time this season, watches practice daily but needs extensive rehabilitation. Shot in the lower back and left arm, he likely will be redshirted this season. Shawn James, a 6-10 frontcourt player who left Northeastern to move to Duquesne with Everhart, still cannot practice because of a bullet lodged in his foot. He is hoping light running and casual shooting in practice will cause the bullet to move closer to his skin so it can be removed. Kojo Mensah, a guard who transferred from Siena, also cannot practice because of injuries to his left arm and shoulder. Neither James nor Mensah is eligible this season. Aaron Jackson, the only one of the five players shot who did not receive a substantial injury, was grazed in the wrist by the same bullet that struck Mensah. One of two players returning from last season's 3-24 team, he has practiced since preseason workouts formally began Oct. 13. Because the shootings have further weakened a program that was the worst in the Atlantic 10 Conference last season, Everhart was surprised when conference coaches picked the Dukes to finish 13th in the 14-school league. The Dukes have had a losing record in all but one of the last 20 seasons and haven't been ranked in the AP Top 25 in 34 years. Depleted by the shooting and other routine injuries, Everhart at times has had only eight healthy players for practice -- including three walk-ons. "Maybe it's a show of support from the other coaches we weren't picked last," Everhart said. www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/9754301
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