The Duquesne men's basketball team signed 6-foot-6, 220-pound forward Joel Wright to a financial aid agreement. He immediately will be eligible part of the men's basketball program this fall. Wright, nicknamed "Air Jamaica" was born in Jamaica, lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., and attended Brittain Academy in North Carolina.

"We're excited to have Joel as part of the Duquesne basketball family," Duquesne coach Ron Everhart said. "He is very talented, very mature and a hard worker as well. I think Duquesne is a great fit for Joel and Joel is a great fit for Duquesne."

Wright, who moved to the United States at age 12, verbally committed to Fordham in January 2009 but backed out when then-head coach Dereck Whittenburg was replaced five games into the 2009-10 season. He also made a verbal commitment to Manhattan College in early March, but opted not to sign with the Jaspers.

Wright didn't begin playing basketball until the eighth grade. A 5-inch growth spurt enabled him begin dunking a basketball by the end of eighth grade. That ability earned him the nickname.

Wright is the fifth member of the 2010-11 recruiting class, which includes guard T.J. McConnell of Chartiers Valley.

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