The recruiting network in college basketball has no boundaries, with coaches uncovering players from distant places.

Duquesne's newest recruit is 6-foot-9 Ali Abdou Djim, a senior at Bethel High School in Hampton, Va., who is a native of Chad in central Africa. Djim, whose father was a military officer recently killed during the civil war strife in Chad, and two other players relocated to the United States this summer and are enrolled at Bethel.

Djim, living with a family in Hampton, can't sign a binding national letter of intent until Wednesday at the start of the early signing period.

NCAA rules prohibit a college coach from discussing a recruit until after he signs.

"I would say he's a raw talent with a large upside," Bethel coach Craig Brehon said of Djim, who played for the Chad Junior National team and speaks French, Arabic and English. "He's a tenacious kid who attacks the glass for rebounds and is a tireless competitor.

"His offensive skills have improved considerably just since he's come here. He's a quick learner who pays attention to detail pretty well."

Duquesne coach Ron Everhart first heard about Djim from Ed Huckaby, a longtime friend who is an assistant at Bethel. Everhart watched Djim participate in open scrimmages at the school and Djim visited Duquesne's campus two weeks ago.

"He liked the family-type feeling he saw at Duquesne," Brehon said. "Ron is very personable and Djim enjoyed his personality."

Djim also visited Hampton University and Old Dominion.

Two other Bethel High players also made verbal commitments to Division I schools: 6-9 David Baroum (LaSalle) and 6-7 Mbai Goto Oliver (Clemson). Center David Key Keyba is undecided.

Everhart, who has five scholarships to offer, has received verbal commitments from Schenley's 6-4 Deandre Kane, who averaged 14.9 points for the PIAA Class AAAA champion Spartans; 6-2 Johnny Higgins (15.5 ppg), who played at Notre Dame (Mass.) Prep last season under current Duquesne assistant Bill Barton; and Detroit Northwestern High School's 5-10 Eric Evans (23.8 ppg, 7.1 apg) and 6-7 Shawntez Patterson (14.8 ppg, 8.6 rpg).