Memphis forward transfers to Duquesne and can play immediately

Basketball Betting Lines

08/29/2006 -

PITTSBURGH (AP) -Almamy Thiero never lived up to the promise of his outstanding high school career during an injury-filled career at Memphis. He hopes to do so during his final college season after transferring to Duquesne.

Thiero, still listed on the University of Memphis' roster as of last weekend, is taking advantage of a new NCAA rule that allows graduate students to transfer schools and become eligible immediately. Undergraduate students must sit out one season after switching schools.

Thiero, a 6-foot-10, 255-pound forward who graduated from Memphis in May, played in 28 games over three seasons from 2002-05 but sat out the 2005-06 season with a knee ligament injury.

Thiero was considered one of the nation's top high school players while at Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham, N.C., where he averaged 18 points and nearly 14 rebounds for two seasons.

He was injured during most of his time at Memphis, including a broken leg that required two operations while he was a freshman. He also missed most of the 2003-04 season after being diagnosed with blood clots near his lungs. During his only healthy season, 2004-05, he averaged 0.5 points and 1.7 rebounds in 23 games.

Now that Thiero is healthy, Duquesne coach Ron Everhart thinks a player with four years of experience in an upper-level program can be a valuable asset to what might be the youngest team in Division I.

``He didn't play a lot at Memphis, but he can be an impact guy for us,'' Everhart said Monday. ``He's had some tough luck with injuries, but this gives him a new start and he's going to be a player we're counting on.''

Only two players from last season's 3-24 team returned to Duquesne after Everhart was hired away from Northeastern to replace Danny Nee. Everhart has recruited eight new players plus Shawn James, who will follow him from Northeastern but will be ineligible this season.

Having Thiero will help Duquesne make the transition before James, the nation's top shot blocker, becomes eligible.

``A player like Almamy who was at the highest level brings us a lot of experience and leadership,'' Everhart said. ``He's a player with ability, and our younger guys can learn from him what it takes to compete in college basketball on a daily basis and to win at this level.''

Duquesne has only one returning inside player with experience, 6-9 Kieron Achara, who missed all but a few minutes of last season with a shoulder injury.

The NCAA has had rules that allowed graduate students with eligibility remaining to change schools and be eligible immediately, but they did not apply to Division I basketball until this year.

Thiero is a native of Mali in West Africa.

Everhart's recruiting class is one of the biggest in major college basketball history - he has replaced nearly an entire team - but it will not include Destin Damachoua, a 6-1 shooting guard from The Master's School in West Simsbury, Conn.

Damachoua, one of Everhart's first four recruits and considered possibly the second best signee to 6-7 forward Stuard Baldonando, did not meet eligibility requirements. He is enrolled in Polk Community College in Florida.

Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

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Football Betting Lines

The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.

Bet NFL Sports Lines

Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.

Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.

A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.

Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.

Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.

And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.

2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win

Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1

Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1

Donald Brown (IND) 5/1

Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1

Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1

Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1

Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1

Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1

Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1

Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1

Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1

Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1

Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1

Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1

Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1

Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1

Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1

LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1

Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1

Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1

Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1

Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1

Jason Smith (STL) 40/1

Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1

Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1

Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1

Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2

Pat White (MIA) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 9/1

Betting Line

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