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April 24, 2008

Connecticut hoops star Monteiro signs to play at Duquesne

PITTSBURGH (AP) - B.J. Monteiro, a 6-foot-5 swingman chosen as the Connecticut high school player of the year, signed a binding letter of intent Thursday with Duquesne University.

Monteiro, an excellent shooter and penetrator, is expected to compete immediately for playing time at Duquesne, which is losing guards Gary Tucker and Reggie Jackson to graduation.

Monteiro verbally committed to Duquesne following a campus visit in February and signed his letter of intent at a news conference at Crosby High School in Waterbury on Thursday. He also considered UNLV, Saint Joseph's, Penn State and Fordham.

"He's a very good offensive player that we've watched for a long time," Duquesne coach Ron Everhart said. "He's a good kid who comes from an excellent program and a player who will be able to help us immediately."

A former high school teammate of Duquesne forward Damian Saunders, Monteiro averaged 22 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals on Crosby's state Class LL championship team as a senior. He won several state player of the year awards, including that of the Hartford Courant.

Monteiro averaged 24 points as a sophomore on another state championship team in 2005-06, when Saunders was his teammate, and 25 points as a junior.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 3:01 PM | Permalink