D-Fenders record-breaking season capped by 2011-12 NBA Development Champion award - May 16, 2012
POSTED BY:
EUROBASKET NEWS
follow us on
The Los Angeles D-Fenders were named the NBA Development Champion for the 2011-12 NBA Development League season, it was announced today. The Development Champion is a new honor awarded to the team that best embodies the NBA D-League's goals of developing NBA talent via Call-Ups and player assignments.
'The NBA Development Champion award is a testament to the commitment that our franchise has to producing top-level NBA talent,' said D-Fenders President/CEO Joey Buss [read more]
The Los Angeles D-Fenders were named the NBA Development Champion for the 2011-12 NBA Development League season, it was announced today. The Development Champion is a new honor awarded to the team that best embodies the NBA D-League's goals of developing NBA talent via Call-Ups and player assignments. 'The NBA Development Champion award is a testament to the commitment that our franchise has to producing top-level NBA talent,' said D-Fenders President/CEO Joey Buss. 'We are extremely proud to have helped develop countless players and personnel for the Los Angeles Lakers as well as the NBA.'
Based on a scoring system that awards points for player/staff Call-Ups along with player assignments, the D-Fenders finished with a score of 31.25, earning the highest mark in the 16-team D-League. The Austin Toros tallied 22.50 points and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers totaled 21.50 points, respectively.
In their first season back after a one-year hiatus, the D-Fenders won a league-record 38 games en route to becoming the 2011-12 NBA Development League Regular Season Champions for the first time in franchise history. Furthermore, the D-Fenders swept through the first two rounds of the 2012 NBA D-League Playoffs to reach the NBA D-League Finals for the first time in team history.
Mad Ants 'finalizing' contract to hire new head coach - May 10, 2012
POSTED BY:
EUROBASKET NEWS
follow us on
Duane Ticknor, a minor-league coaching veteran who led the Dakota Wizards to back-to-back playoff appearances from 2007 to 09, will be the next head coach of the Mad Ants.
A contract has not been signed between Ticknor, 57, and the Ants.
Were kind of finalizing things, said Ticknor by phone. I think weve progressed to the point where were getting real close to finalizing the deal. I guess thats a good way to put it [read more]
Duane Ticknor, a minor-league coaching veteran who led the Dakota Wizards to back-to-back playoff appearances from 2007 to 09, will be the next head coach of the Mad Ants.
A contract has not been signed between Ticknor, 57, and the Ants.
Were kind of finalizing things, said Ticknor by phone. I think weve progressed to the point where were getting real close to finalizing the deal. I guess thats a good way to put it. Weve got to go through the proper channels not only through the Mad Ants organization, but also through NBA channels.
In his only two seasons with Dakota, Ticknor led the Wizards to the postseason. Dakota won the Central Division title with a 29-21 record during the 2007-08 season, and the following year, the Wizards defeated Central Division champion Iowa in the first round of the playoffs before falling in the league semifinals.
To be close to his home in Vermillion, S.D., Ticknor took an assistant coaching job with the Sioux Falls Skyforce for two seasons, beginning in 2009.
Last year he coached in Korea.
Ticknor was the coach of the CBA Gary Steelheads from 2002 to 05 and was an assistant with the Rapid City Thrillers from 1989 to 92. He was also the head coach for three IBA teams: Black Hills (1995-99), Dakota (1999-2000) and Siouxland Bombers (2000-01). During his IBA tenure, he was the leagues coach of the year four times and won the championship in 1997.
Ticknor will replace Steve Gansey as the Mad Ants coach.
Gansey was named interim coach last season after Joey Meyer was released in January after Meyer won five of his first 15 games of the 2011-12 season. Gansey was elevated from his assistant job and led the Ants the remainder of the season, going 9-26. The 14-36 record was the worst in the D-League and the franchises worst.
Obviously the talent level needs to get a lot better, Ticknor said of future Ants teams. Thats the bottom line in pro basketball. Talent usually wins. Then youve got to develop chemistry within the team and within the coaching staff. Its not just all about the players having chemistry. Youve got to build relationships with players, and youve got to have mutual respect in both directions. Thats been one of my strong suits, is to be able to build those relationships with mutual respect.
Gansey has been asked to return to the team as an assistant but isnt sure whether he will accept.
My status is I got to be asked as the assistant, but nothings been signed yet or anything. Im thinking about it. Gansey said.
2011-2012 All-United States Awards (Voted by All USA Sports Reporters) - May 4, 2012
POSTED BY:
EUROBASKET CENTER
follow us on
Traditionally at the end of each year Usbasket announces the American awards for last year. So for the second time Usbasket would like to announce its 2011-2012 National Awards.
It's prepared by Usbasket.com staff. Usbasket has a network of almost 200 correspondents, while most of them are located in the United States and participated in preparing the ranking below [read more]
Traditionally at the end of each year Usbasket announces the American awards for last year. So for the second time Usbasket would like to announce its 2011-2012 National Awards.
It's prepared by Usbasket.com staff. Usbasket has a network of almost 200 correspondents, while most of them are located in the United States and participated in preparing the ranking below.
We have the policy of not involving the fans as it may influence the final ranking and instead of that we rely on the opinions of experts.
All-United States category applies only to American Professional Basketball (not the NBA), but also these, who played overseas (mostly in NBA). The minor leagues were selected off of number of games, stats, players going overseas and overall talent.
Ahead of them all has to be the NBA D-League. The D-League by far has the most talent in the United States. Not only do they have the most talent they are branded by the brand (NBA). The D-League has sent over 20 players up to the NBA this season including 2011 Usbasket.com All-United States Player of the Year Othyus Jeffers and 2nd Team member Jeff Adrian.
The UBA continues to be the most impressive league of them all under the power houses. The UBA has sent over 80 players overseas in just 3 seasons. Not only do their players move on to the next level they all play well. Over 50% of the UBA players go to their mid-level countries and average the same numbers as they did in the UBA league.
The IBL and the PBL have to be two of the most entertaining and profitable leagues going in the United States. The PBL has the largest budget than all of the minor leagues and continue to add big talent. The IBL has been carried by power teams like the Los Angel es Lightning and ex NBA players like Bryon Russell and Toby Bailey.
The ABA is one of the longest running leagues in the minor league circuit. No doubt about it, it's the longest running US pro league in the USA.
The NBL Canada is th new league on the block but their carrying themselves like a true top notice league. Looke to be a future power.
This year, Justin Dentmon dominated the votes and was named Player of the Year award and also United States 1st Team.
The first team was dominated by NBA D-League players, with Non D-League selected just in the 2nd best team.
Best point guard of the year is Justin Dentmon. The D-League star had a terrific season with Austin Toros, leading the team to a 35-17 record. Dentmon led the Toros in assist this season with 5.9 and scored an impressive 22.6ppg. Dentmon was also named to the 2011 USA National Team. There is no question that he will be next in line for a call-up.
Shooting Guard of the Year is no surprise, Elijah Millsap. Millsap was called-up by the LA Lakers before returning to the Defenders. He finished the season an All-Star with an average of 19.6ppg and 6.5rpg.
In small forward position there is New Jersey Nets player Andre Emmett. This year, Emmett was one of the Dleagues top scorers with an average of 23.1ppg. The Texas Tech Star spent this season in the D-League with Reno Bighorns. He is currently playing in Lebanon for the playoffs.
Power forward of the year is one of the best athletes in the country: Brandon Costner. The Dleague All- Star was one of the key players of the LA Defender Championship run. Costner is currently averaging 19.6ppg and 6.0rpg.
Best center of the year is one of the biggest revelations of the previous season: Marcus Lewis. The big man had an impressive year with Tulsa 66ers averaging 15.6ppg and a league best 12.4rpg. He is by far the best big in the NBA-DLeague.
The best coach of the year has to be the surprise of the year, Travis McAvene. He was named USbasket.com All-UBA coach of the Year leading his Cincinnati Slam to a 19-1 record and sending 4 players overseas in just his first season in the UBA. McAvene has also been named to the USA National Team staff for the William Jones Cup in Taiwan this summer live o ESPN.
Usbasket.com All-United States 1st Team 2012
#s#
Dentmon
Costner
Lewis
Emmett
Almond
#e#5
Player of the Year:Justin Dentmon (6'0''-G-85) of Austin Toros (NBA D-League) Point Guard of the Year:Justin Dentmon (6'0''-G-85) of Austin Toros (NBA D-League) Shooting Guard of the Year:Elijah Millsap (6'6''-G-87) of Reno Bighorns (NBA Dleague) Small Forward of the Year:Andre Emmett (6'5''-G/F-82) of Reno Bighorns (NBA Dleague) Power Forward of the Year:Brandon Costner (6'9''-F-87) of Los Angeles Defenders (NBA Dleague) Center of the Year:Marcus Lewis (6'8''-F/C-86) of Tulsa 66ers (NBA Dleague) Coach of the Year:Travis McAvene of UBA
1st Team F: Brandon Costner (6'9''-87) of Los Angeles Defenders (NBA Dleague) F/C: Marcus Lewis (6'8''-86) of Tulsa 66ers (NBA Dleague) G: Justin Dentmon (6'0''-85) of Austin Toros (NBA D-League) G/F: Andre Emmett (6'5''-82) of Reno Bighorns (NBA Dleague) F/G: Morris Almond (6'6''-85) of Maine RC (NBA Dleague)
2nd Team G/F: Jermaine Barnes (6'5''-82) of GIE Morrow Disciples (UBA/Dominican Republic) F: Gabe Freeman (6'6''-85) of Bakersfield Jam (NBL) PG: Blake Ahearn (6'2''-84) of Reno Bighorns (Dleague) G: Perry Petty (6'1''-88) of Central Illinois Drive (PBL) F: Chris Commons (6'9''-84) of Scranton (PBL) F/C: Jermaine Bell (6'11''-84) of Jacksonville Giants (ABA)
3rd Team G: Tony White (6'0''-88) of South Carolina Warriors (ABA) C: Malcolm Thomas (6'9''-88) of LA Defenders (Dleague) G/F: Hugh Jones (6'5''-80) of Beltway Bombers (ACPBL) F: Ryan Edwards (6'5''-83) of Kankakee Country S. (IBA) F: Jonathon Avery (6'7''-88) of Cincinnati Slam/ Chile (UBA) G: Anthony Anderson (5'11''-81) of Saint John MR (NBL)
Honorable Mention Keith Closs (7'4''-C-76) of Los Angeles Slam (WCBL) Nick Carter (6'1''-F-86) of Hudson Valley H. (EBA) Tim Williams (6'3''-G-89) of Battle Creek (IBA) Herman Favors (5'9''-G-84) of Sauk Valley Predators (PBL) Chris Matthews (6'4''-G-85) of Washingron Maddness (EBA) Freddie Williams (6'2''-G-87) of GIE Morrow Disciples (UBA) Elvin Mims (6'5''-F-79) of Lawton Fort Sill Cavalry (PBL) DeAndre Bray (5'6''-G-85) of Southern Generals (UBA) Greg Smith (6'10''-C-91) of Rio Grande Vipers (Dleague)
Copyright (c) 1998-2012 Eurobasket Inc. Disclaimer
WARNING:
Do not copy, redistribute, publish or otherwise exploit information that you download from the site !
Do not encumber, license, modify, publish, sell, transfer or transmit, or in any way exploit, any of the
content of the site, nor will you attempt to do so.
USA Basketball
Canadian Hoops
