The University of Minnesota Duluth men's basketball coach Gary Holquist landed Hopkins High School (Minn.) senior Steven Duncan this week as part of the NCAA's late signing period. Duncan, a 6-foot-5 guard, averaged 16 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game for a Hopkins team that went 61-3 the past two seasons, winning two straight Class AAAA state titles in the process.

\"Steve is a swing player, and the best way to describe him is that he is really different than what we have coming back,\" said Holquist. \"We're a catch-and-shoot team. We have guys who can make the perimeter shot, but we don't have guys who can really put it on the floor and attack the basket. We have some of that with forward Bryan Foss, but we wanted more of that out on the perimeter.\"

Duncan, a two-year starter, is considered the Royals' best defender and held Duluth East star Cory Johnson to just 15 points on Jan. 19 when Hopkins handed the Greyhounds a 82-54 defeat. Duncan is a two-time First Team Classic Lake All-Conference selection and was also named All-State honorable mention this past season. He was selected to the All-State Tournament First Team and was a member of the 2006 Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game.

The Bulldogs are coming off their second season in the North Central Conference. UMD went 15-14 last season and played into the second round of the NCC tournament for the first time since joining the powerhouse conference.

All signings are contingent upon admission to the University and compliance with NCAA rules, including certification by the NCAA Clearinghouse.