Bernath: Ahern Will Fill Need at Duquesne
Duquesne needed a big man, and 6-10, 255 pound Derek Ahern needed a situation where he could play right away.
So it came as little surprise when the Palm Beach C.C. big man committed to Danny Nee's Dukes program this week. Ahern picked Duquesne over Hartford.
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JUCO Junction/Rivalshoops.com caught up with Palm Beach Head Coach Steve Bernath today regarding Ahern's decision.
"Derek Ahern's choice is an excellent one not only because he will be playing for a great coach, but because they have a tremendous need there for his position."
Ahern is in his second year at Palm Beach C.C. after transferring from American University. Ahern was a freshman at AU in 1999-2000, but a knee injury cut short his freshman basketball season at the school.
Following a coaching change in the spring of 2000 at American, Ahern opted to transfer out of the school.
He then sat out last year at Palm Beach, and hopes to have an effective year before bouncing back to the Division I level next fall.
Should he stay healthy this winter, Ahern could be one of the missing pieces in the Panthers' quest for a Region VIII crown.
Last winter, Palm Beach upset Tallahassee C.C. in the quarterfinals of that event before losing in the semis.
Prior to attending college, Ahern played for famed Head Coach Morgan Wooten at Dematha Catholic H.S. in Hyattsville, Md.