Duquesne freshman Damian Saunders was a late recruit who is making up for lost time.

Saunders, who wasn't free to join Duquesne until he was released from his scholarship at Marquette in late August, has emerged after just three games as one of the most versatile players for the Dukes.

"We feel very fortunate we had a scholarship available when he became available," Duquesne coach Ron Everhart said of the 6-foot-7 Saunders, who was named the Atlantic 10 Conference rookie of the week. "He didn't pull prima donna stuff on us and say he only wanted to play in the Big East. He really wanted to come to Duquesne."

The official word out of Marquette is Saunders wasn't admitted because he didn't qualify academically, but there also wasn't a scholarship for him when star guard Dominic James decided to return to school rather than enter the NBA.

"He got caught in a numbers game. They signed one too many players," Everhart said. "He was the odd-man out. I always liked Damian, and Bill thinks the world of him. He's a perfect fit for us."

Bill Barton, a first-year assistant at Duquesne, was Saunders' coach last season at Notre Dame (Mass.) Prep. Saunders, rated a four-star recruit by recruiting guru Tom Konchalski, averaged 8.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game for a 32-3 team that won the national prep school championship in 2006-07.

Saunders averaged 22.5 points, 15.8 rebounds and 8.0 blocks as a senior for state-champion Crosby High School in Waterbury, Conn.

He had 10 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks and 4 steals in Duquesne's 86-59 victory at Rice Saturday as the Dukes went to 3-0 for the first time since 1998-99, when they opened with victories against Albany, West Virginia and Buffalo in Darelle Porter's first season as head coach. The Dukes finished 5-23.

Duquesne will have an opportunity to go 4-0 for the first time since 1986-87 under Jim Satalin when it plays at Oakland University (2-1) tomorrow night in Rochester, Mich.

"He is what the numbers say he is," Everhart said of Saunders, who averages 13.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists. "The mistakes he makes are overcome by his effort. I thought Damian was a great athlete who was a little raw, but the minute we started practice, I saw he's not raw at all."

Saunders got a late start with the Dukes because he didn't make the trip to Toronto for four exhibition games over the Labor Day weekend while he waited to get eligible through the NCAA clearinghouse.

"I'm probably biased, but I certainly think he's one of the best freshmen in the league," Everhart said. "All three of our freshmen [Saunders, Bill Clark and David Theis] came into the program with a defense-first mentality and the share-the-ball-first mentality."

These newcomers have more than compensated for the loss of freshmen Robert Mitchell, the A-10 rookie of the year last season who transferred to Seton Hall, and Scott Grote, who transferred to Wright State.

NOTES -- Everhart said he hasn't received national letters of intent from the five players who have given Duquesne a verbal commitment, but expects to have them signed this week. ... A limited number of tickets will go on sale today for Duquesne's game against Pitt Dec. 5 at the Palumbo Center. Tickets can be purchased by going to www.ticketmaster.com, calling 412-323-1919 or at the Palumbo center box office from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.