D-League Stars Make Up Large Portion of Pacers Rookie/Free Agent Roster - Jul 1, 2009 (by Surujh Roopnarine)
Highlighted by 2008-09 NBA D-League MVP Courtney Sims (6'11''-C-83, college: Michigan), the Indiana Pacers have released their 2009 Rookie/Free Agent roster which will practice and scrimmage this week in Indiana before heading down to Orlando to participate in the 2009 Orlando Summer League. Totally four former D-League players are on the squad, with Sims being joined by Trey Johnson (6'5''-G-84, college: Jackson St [read more]
Highlighted by 2008-09 NBA D-League MVP Courtney Sims (6'11''-C-83, college: Michigan), the Indiana Pacers have released their 2009 Rookie/Free Agent roster which will practice and scrimmage this week in Indiana before heading down to Orlando to participate in the 2009 Orlando Summer League. Totally four former D-League players are on the squad, with Sims being joined by Trey Johnson (6'5''-G-84, college: Jackson St.) (Bakersfield Jam) and Derrick Byars (6'8''-G/F-84, college: Vanderbilt) (Bakersfield Jam) as players who were in the D-League last season. Former Iowa State and Detroit Pistons draftee Will Blalock (6'0''-G-83, college: Iowa St.) is the other D-League alum on the roster. With the news that guard Marquis Daniels will become a free-agent and the fact that Jarret Jack (and less likely Josh McRoberts) will draw heavy interest from several NBA squads, Blalock, Sims, Johnson and Byars have an excellent opportunity to impress front-office officials in Indiana and possibly work their way into training camp this fall. Blalock, Johnson and Byars, specifically due to their skill sets and the potential open roster spots, have the most to gain from impressive showings. Sims and Johnson both saw time in the NBA season last season, receiving multiple 10-day contracts while in the D-League.
The Sioux Falls Skyforce announced today that minor league coaching veteran Duane Ticknor has been named assistant coach for the 2009-10 season. He comes to Sioux Falls after serving as head coach of the Dakota Wizards the past two seasons.
We are extremely excited to add Duane Ticknor to our coaching staff, said first-year head coach Tony Fritz. It is a rare opportunity to add a coach with so much experience and knowledge [read more]
The Sioux Falls Skyforce announced today that minor league coaching veteran Duane Ticknor has been named assistant coach for the 2009-10 season. He comes to Sioux Falls after serving as head coach of the Dakota Wizards the past two seasons.
We are extremely excited to add Duane Ticknor to our coaching staff, said first-year head coach Tony Fritz. It is a rare opportunity to add a coach with so much experience and knowledge.
Ticknor guided the Wizards to the postseason in each of his two seasons at the helm and his 2007-08 squad finished 29-21 to win the Central Division crown. This past season the Wizards defeated the Central Division champion Iowa Energy in the first round of the playoffs before falling to the Utah Flash in the league semifinals.
Ticknor spent time in the CBA as head coach of the Gary Steelheads (2002-05) and as an assistant coach of the Rapid City Thrillers (1989-92). The Vermillion, S.D. native was also the head coach for three IBA teams: Black Hills Posse (1995-99), Dakota Wizards (1999-00) and Siouxland Bombers (2000-01). The four-time Coach of the Year (96, 97, 98, 00) advanced to the IBA Finals three times and won the championship in 1997.
In addition to his professional experience, Ticknor also coached at the collegiate level. He compiled a regular season record of 139-66 in six seasons as head mens basketball coach at National American University in Rapid City, S.D. He was inducted into the Rapid City Sports Hall of Fame in 1989 after his team advanced to the national tournament four times and won back-to-back national championships in 1987 and 1988.
Ive always had great respect for the Skyforce organization and I look forward to working with Coach Fritz, said Ticknor. Coaching in Sioux Falls will allow me to work in front of great fans and be close to my family in Vermillion.
Jordan to play in NBA Summer League - Jul 1, 2009 (by Eurobasket News)
The NBA D-League Rio Grande Valley Vipers announced today that Jared Jordan (6'2''-G-84, college: Marist) will play for the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Summer League July 10-through-19 at the Thomas & Mack Center and COX Pavilion in Las Vegas.
Jordan becomes the third Viper to take part in the NBA Summer League. Last year, Aaron Brooks played for the Houston Rockets and C.J. Watson played for the Golden State Warriors.
Brooks averaged 16 [read more]
The NBA D-League Rio Grande Valley Vipers announced today that Jared Jordan (6'2''-G-84, college: Marist) will play for the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Summer League July 10-through-19 at the Thomas & Mack Center and COX Pavilion in Las Vegas.
Jordan becomes the third Viper to take part in the NBA Summer League. Last year, Aaron Brooks played for the Houston Rockets and C.J. Watson played for the Golden State Warriors.
Brooks averaged 16.8 points and 7.0 assists in five games.
Watson averaged 18.8 points, 4.8 assists, 4.2 steals and 3.5 rebounds in four games.
Jordan played in the NBA Summer League last year with the Phoenix Suns.
Jordan averaged 3.2 points, 2.6 assists and 14.6 minutes off the bench in five games.
Jordan joined the team on their first road trip of the season, and after backing up Smush Parker through the NBA D-League Showcase, he took over as the starting point guard before suffering an ankle injury. Jordan returned to the lineup on February 18 in Anaheim, and went on to become one of the best floor generals in the league.
Jordan led the league in assists per 48 minutes (13.7) while ranking second in assists per game (8.8) and assists to turnover ratio (3.29). He set the franchise record for assists in a game by recording 21 in a 122-116 win over Fort Wayne on February 26. As a team, the Vipers set a franchise record with 35 assists in that game.
Jordan also became an offensive threat, averaging 10.6 points per game. He also led the team with 1.9 steals per game.
Jawad Williams, Joey Dorsey and Delonte Holland who hadn't yet played for the Vipers, took part in the NBA Summer League last year with the Cleveland Cavaliers/Toronto Raptors, Rockets and New York Knicks respectively.
Williams averaged 6.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in three games for the Cavaliers after scoring two points and grabbing four rebounds in one game for the Raptors.
Dorsey averaged 10.0 points and 9.0 rebounds in three games.
Holland averaged 5.4 points in five games.
The Rio Grande Valley Vipers are a professional basketball team in the NBA Development League (NBA D-League). The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA's official minor league and featured 16 teams with direct affiliations to NBA teams during the 2008-09 season. This fall, two new NBA D-League teams will begin play in Portland, Maine and Springfield, Mass.-- the birthplace of basketball. Eighty-four former NBA Development League players were on 2008-09 NBA end-of-season rosters, amounting to almost 20 percent of NBA players, and the league continues to develop coaches, referees, and front office staff for the NBA and its teams. In fostering the league's connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. The NBA D-League also advances the game of basketball as the research and development arm of the NBA. Throughout the season fans can watch all NBA D-League games on NBA Futurecast, the free live Web-streaming initiative found at nba.com/futurecast. The Vipers' NBA affiliate is the Houston Rockets. Courtesy of The Rio Grande Valley Vipers
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