Melquan Bolding Signs National Letter of Intent
May 21st, 2008
NewEnglandRecruitingReport.com
Melquan Bolding signed his National Letter of Intent on Thursday…but not with Louisville. The swingman who had previously made a verbal commitment to Rick Pitino instead inked with Duquesne University.
Former Notre Dame Prep Head Coach, and current Duquesne assistant, Bill Barton continues to pay great dividends for Dukes’ Head Coach Ron Everhart. In the one year that he has been on staff he has already landed talented local products like Damian Saunders and B.J. Monteiro among others, now comes the addition of Melquan Bolding.
Bolding previously made a verbal commitment to Louisville, in November, 2006 while he was still playing at Archbishop Stepinac in New York. Following that season he decided to attend Notre Dame Prep for one season where he expected to play for Barton. When Barton left for Duquesne, he never got that opportunity.
It began to become apparent that Bolding’s future at Louisville may not be set in stone during the November signing period, when he did not sign a National Letter of Intent. Now, he becomes a major addition for the Duke’s program.
“He and his family are very comfortable with their relationship with Coach Barton,” said current Notre Dame Prep Head Coach Ryan Hurd. “When Melquan had the opportunity to visit campus and get to know Coach Everhart it was a no brainer.”
Bolding and Monteiro will join Alabama combo-guard Chase Robinson as players who have signed with Duquesne this spring. The threesome should form a very potent perimeter trio. Bolding and Monteiro are two players who are known for their ability to get to the rim, while Robinson has a reputation as a terrific shooter.
The incoming freshmen will also have an opportunity to earn immediate minutes as Duquesne has seen recent departures by Shawn James and Koho Mensah, who both declared for the NBA Draft.
Nevertheless, with so many talented young players in the fold, Duquesne is clearly a program on the rise.
“Melquan is excited about the kids they have on campus, especially Damian and B.J.,” said Hurd. “He thinks they are definitely headed in the right direction.”
The Dukes are also a program that is building with an emphasis on recruiting New England. Bolding will be one of six players on Duquesne’s roster next season with roots in the region, joining Monteiro, Saunders, Worcester Academy’s Bill Blark, Northwest Catholic’s Aaron Jackson, and Cushing Academy’s Jimmy Sherwood.
