Adam Lindner | Sports Editor
April 25, 2019
Baylee Steele, a 6-foot-11, 245-pound center who played last season for the Utah Valley University Wolverines, has signed a financial aid agreement with Duquesne. Steele, a graduate transfer, will be eligible to play for the Dukes in 2019-20.
Steele, a Norwalk, Iowa native, spent his freshman season at Des Moines Area Community College, located in central Iowa. He then transferred to Division I Eastern Michigan, where he appeared in all 33 games for the Eagles, making 22 starts. Three of Steele’s 33 appearances came versus the Akron Zips, then coached by Keith Dambrot.
Dambrot left Akron for Duquesne following the 2016-17 season.
Steele departed from Eastern Michigan following the 2016-17 season as well, transferring to Utah Valley.
Following a redshirt season in 2017-18, Steele started in 35 games for Utah Valley in 2018-19, averaging 20.1 minutes, 8.5 points and 7.2 rebounds for the Wolverines.
Utah Valley advanced to the second round of the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) before falling to South Florida. Wolverines Head Coach Mark Pope then left for the BYU position.
Steele told Pittsburgh Sports Now that he was extremely happy with his decision to come to Duquesne.
“The situation that I was looking for when I entered the transfer portal was exactly what Duquesne had to offer me,” Steele told PSN. “Plus, when I was there, everything felt so real and so right.”
Steele added that Dambrot’s reputation for player development played a big role in his decision.
“He has such a long history of developing big men,” Steele said.
Steele will be immediately eligible for Duquesne in 2019-20 as a graduate transfer. His arrival should bolster the Duquesne frontcourt, where he will join forces with the likes of Mike Hughes, Marcus Weathers, Austin Rotroff, Amari Kelly and James Ellis.
In other news concerning Duquesne basketball fans, DU’s leading scorer and rebounder in 2018-19, Eric Williams Jr., has decided on a new home for his basketball and educational career.
On April 20, Williams Jr. announced on Twitter that he would be transferring to play for the Oregon Ducks.
Williams Jr. will have to sit-out the 2019-20 season before being eligible as a redshirt junior in 2020-21.
