Duquesne coach Ron Everhart made a huge recruiting statement yesterday when he received a verbal commitment from Schenley's 6-foot-4 Deandre Kane, a combo guard who helped the Spartans win the PIAA Class AAAA championship as a junior and is projected as one of the top players in Pennsylvania for 2007-08.

Under NCAA rules, Everhart is not allowed to comment on a recruit until he signs a national letter of intent in November.

Kane, who often played in the shadow of 6-7 DeJuan Blair (a Pitt recruit) and 6-6 D.J. Kennedy (St. John's) this past season, averaged 14.9 points and was a catalyst for the Spartans throughout the PIAA tournament. Kane scored a game-high 21 points in a 78-71 victory against Chester in the title game for the Spartans (29-3).

Kane followed in the footsteps of his father, Calvin, who was a member of the 1978 Schenley team that won a state championship.

Deandre Kane also was being recruited by Pitt, Illinois, Penn State, Wisconsin, Virginia Tech, Wyoming and Toledo.

"I didn't fully commit yet, I just gave a verbal commitment. It's not like it's locked in stone yet," Kane said last night from a hospital where he has been taking tests and is under supervision for dehydration after participating in tournament Sunday in Akron, Ohio.

Asked why he made a verbal commitment, Kane said: "Better earlier than late. I think I can go down there and help turn things around. I like their facility. They have a law program I like."

Everhart, who has three scholarships to offer for 2008, was in the market for a guard because current seniors Reggie Jackson and Gary Tucker will be out of eligibility after the 2007-08 season. Everhart most likely will try to recruit frontcourt players with his other scholarships because 6-10 Kieron Achara will have used up his eligibility and 6-9 Shawn James might choose to give up his final season of eligibility and turn pro.

Everhart has been in Detroit, Las Vegas and the 5-Star Camp at Robert Morris in the past two weeks looking for high school players 6-9 and taller.