Duquesne coaches Ron Everhart and Suzie McConnell-Serio are hoping to use the university's most successful combined men's and women's basketball seasons in 27 years as a springboard for the future during the national letter of intent signing period that starts today and continues until May 21.

The men and women each had non-losing records in the same season for the first time since 1981.

Everhart's men were 17-14 to end 13 consecutive losing seasons and McConnell-Serio's women were 15-15 in her first season as head coach.

"I'm recruiting under the premise I have three scholarships to offer," said Everhart, who signed three players in the fall and received a verbal commitment from a fourth. "We're taking our time [in the spring] and we might hold onto one or two scholarships to get a couple guys late in the summer.

"Recruiting is always changing and you never know what might happen. We often don't care about positions. We're looking to get the best players we can get."

The early recruits were 5-foot-10 Eric Evans (26.3 ppg, 8.1 apg) of Northwestern High School in Detroit, who was all-state and runner-up Michigan Mr. Basketball; 6-7 Shawntez Patterson, also of Detroit's Northwestern; and 6-2 Johnny Higgins of Notre Dame (Mass.) Prep.

Everhart said Duquesne's coaches and Higgins have discussed the possibility of releasing him from the national letter of intent.

Ali Djim, a 6-8 forward from Bethel Christian School in Hampton, Va., will attend a prep school rather than Duquesne.

Everhart expects to receive a signed letter today or tomorrow from 6-5 B.J. Monteiro of Crosby High School in Waterbury, Conn. Monteiro (22 ppg, 10 rpg, 5 apg, 3 blocks, 3 steals), who made a verbal commitment to Duquesne, was the leading vote-getter on the all-state team in the largest classification and led Crosby to the state championship.

Duquesne's 6-7 Damian Saunders, who will be a sophomore, also is from Crosby.

Everhart said he doesn't expect to sign anyone else until next week at the earliest.

All of the incoming players should expect to compete for playing time because guards Reggie Jackson and Gary Tucker and center-forward Kieron Achara have used up their eligibility, guard/forward Stephen Wood is transferring, and Shawn James' status is iffy because he might turn professional.

With Saunders the only scholarship player other than James at 6-7 or taller, Everhart is looking for some frontcourt players who can provide immediate help.

Duquesne is interested in a number of big men, including 6-9 Zvonko Buljan (12.7 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 1.9 apg) from Vincennes (Ind.) Junior College and 6-9, 245-pound Bocar Ba (6 ppg, 6 rpg), a native of Senegal from College of Southern Idaho.

Like Everhart, McConnell-Serio was successful during the early signing period. She picked up two of the most celebrated players in the WPIAL: Mt. Lebanon's 5-9 Jackie Babe (11.0 ppg, 3.1 apg) and Upper St. Clair's Alex Gensler (16.5 ppg, 3.3 steals).

Gensler was the Post-Gazette's player of the year and second-team all-state. Babe was a member of the Post-Gazette's Fab 5 and also was second-team all-state.

In addition to the incoming freshmen, the Dukes will be bolstered by two transfers who sat out the 2007-08 season under NCAA rules: 5-11 junior Rachel Frederick (Ohio University) of North Catholic High School and 6-1 junior Eve Pyle (Miami, Ohio) of Oakland Catholic.

Frederick was the 2005-06 freshman of the year in the Mid-American Conference and was the team MVP and third-team all-MAC as a sophomore when she averaged 13.1 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 2006-07. Pyle averaged 9.6 points and 7.1 rebounds as a sophomore in 2006-07.