Shot Duquesne Player Ashaolu Upgraded to Serious

Sept. 22, 2006 — -- Sam Ashaolu, the most seriously-injured of five Duquesne basketball players who were shot on Sunday, was upgraded to serious condition from critical, the university said Friday.

Ashaolu, a 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward from Toronto, Canada, still has two bullets in his head, one intact and the other fragmented. Duquesne coach Ron Everhart said this week that Ashaolu, who is being treated at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, was responsive and showing signs of movement when he wasn't sedated.

Ashaolu, 23, has squeezed teammates' hands during their frequent hospital visits, and he seemed to respond to their words of encouragement.

More information on Ashaolu's condition was expected to be made public later Friday.

Among the other players who were shot, Stuard Baldonado remained hospitalized, also at Mercy Hospital, in fair condition after he had a bullet removed from his back. He is being encouraged to get out of bed and doctors may push for his release from Mercy Hospital over the weekend.

Kojo Mensah (bullet in arm and shoulder), Shawn James (bullet in foot) and Aaron Jackson (bullet grazed hand) have all been treated and released.

Two Pittsburgh-area men and a female Duquesne student have been charged in connection with the shooting, which took place early Sunday morning after a dance on campus.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.