Duquesne Basketball
New Duquesne Guard Explains Why He Chose Dukes
Duquesne’s newest freshman guard, Dom Aekins, is ready for his college career to begin.
After committing to the Dukes nearly two years ago back in July 2023, Aekins wrapped up his high-school career and will now join Dru Joyce III’s squad in year two of the Joyce era.
The Columbus, Ohio native stands 5-foot-8. He spent his high-school career playing for Walnut Ridge High School as well as All Ohio Red.
Now, Aekins has a message for the Dukes’ fans, which was shared by the Duquesne basketball team Twitter page.
“I chose Duquesne because it’s part of a very beautiful city that is surrounded with great things to do,” he said. “I really love the campus, it’s great academically and the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse is a phenomenal basketball facility. I’m excited to meet my teammates, experience my first year of college and help our team challenge for a championship.”
Freshman season on the way 😤😤#GoDukes || @DomAekins1 pic.twitter.com/Syu4sbnIBC
— Duquesne Basketball (@DuqMBB) May 29, 2025
OTHER DUQUESNE NEWS
Over the weekend, the Dukes landed Serbian prospect Lazar Milosevic, according to a post on his Instagram account.
“I want to sincerely thank Coach Dru Joyce III and the entire Duquesne staff for believing in me and giving me this amazing opportunity,” he said. “I’m honored to join a program built on discipline, development, and a winning mentality.”
Milosevic is a 6-foot-9 guard/wing who last played for OKK Spars Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There, he played in 26 games, averaging just under 30 minutes per contest. Milosevic shot 40% from three-point range, making 49 three pointers on the season and averaging 12.1 points per game. He also averaged 4.6 rebounds per game for his team.
The Dukes have announced several key returners in the past week or so, including Jake DiMichele, Jakub Necas, David Dixon, and Cam Crawford.
Last season, DiMichele battled injuries, only playing in seven games. However, in limited action, DiMichele showed an improved offensive game and took on a big role as a scorer. In that seven-game sophomore stint, he averaged 24.3 minutes per game, 10.9 points per game, and 1.6 assists per game. DiMichele shot 32% from three as a sophomore.
The 6-foot-4 McKees Rocks native earned playing time in 30 games as a freshman, averaging 6.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. He scored 8 points on 3-for-6 shooting in Duquesne’s First Round win in the NCAA Tournament over BYU.
Dixon, a 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward, spent his junior season coming off the bench for the Dukes for the most part. He appeared in 32 games, starting ten. Dixon played just 18.3 minutes per game for the Dukes but made a massive impact. He averaged 5.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest, setting a career-high in rebounds per game but taking a step back in the scoring department.
Crawford is a former Marshall standout who transferred to Duquesne ahead of last season. The 6-foot-5 wing averaged 8.6 points and 2.5 rebounds per game for the Dukes, shooting 43% from three-point range as a key shooter for Duquesne throughout year one of the Dru Joyce III era. Crawford started a career-high 22 games this past season, and made 44 of his 102 three-point tries.
Necas, a 6-foot-8 wing/forward, averaged 6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game for Dru Joyce III’s squad last season as a sophomore. A native of Blansko, Czech Republic, Necas shot 39% from the field and 25% from three-point range.
