WPIAL Legend Jake DIMichele Set to Make Early Impact at Duquesne

This year, Duquesne basketball has hopes of an Atlantic 10 Championship and an NCAA Tournament bid.

The Dukes bring back lots of experience from last year’s team, Including star guards Dae Dae Grant and Jimmy Clark III. Kareem Rozier is also back with the Dukes for another go at it. However, there may be one surprise player — one that Pittsburgh basketball fans have certainly heard of — that makes a big contribution to this year’s team.

“Jake DiMichele,” Duquesne head coach Keith Dambrot told PSN.  “You can say it whatever way you want to but he’s pushing to play a lot. He’s going to play for us, he’s pretty good. He puts the ball in the basket, he’s a really tough kid. He’s battling right now to be the first sub off the bench for one of the perimeter guys. Right now, he’s actually close to being a starter, that’s how good he’s playing.”

Duquesne’s depth will certainly benefit if the freshman DiMichele can contribute from the very start of his career. The former OLSH standout was a legendary WPIAL player just two years ago, averaging 31.9 points per game and concluding his career with 2,462 points, which put him second on the league’s all-time scoring leaderboard.

DiMichele then decided to take a post graduate year, playing for First Love and continuing his elite play. A 6-foot-4 guard, DiMichele earned First Team All-Elite Prep League honors last year, scoring 24 points per game on 53% shooting.

Watch some of DiMichele’s prep highlights here.

Check out DiMichele and the Dukes in action on Monday, Nov. 6 in an opening night battle against Cleveland State. That game will tip off at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.