From earning the 2013 IBL MVP award, to winning the QBL Mens Championship Finals and securing 2014 QBL MVP honors in Australia, Chehales Tapscott (6'5''-F-90, college: Portland St.) has taken his game to another level this past year.
After winning the 2013 IBL MVP award, Tapscott was drafted in the NBA D-League draft by the Maine Red Claws. Tapscott went to camp with the Red Claws, but ultimately did not make the final squad. Following that, Tapscott continued to work on his game and used the experience as a positive step in his professional playing career. The following Spring, Tapscott signed a deal to play in Australia, and exploded on the scene for the Rockhampton Rockets in the QBL.
Tapscott described what led to his success down under, The key factor was my preparation. I worked hard on my game going into Australia and it payed off. I got extra shots up, lifted, and the experience from the D-League helped me out as well...and of course, good teamwork.
Following his successful stint with Rockhampton, which included 29.9 points and 10.8 rebounds per game, Tapscott is now heading to Japan where he signed a deal to play for Bambitious Nara of the bj League. Tapscott will also be joined by 2014 IBL MVP Andre Murray on the squad.
Tapscott expects his experience in Australia to transfer over to his upcoming trip to Japan. I hope my playing experience, and new knowledge of the game can help me. When I was in Australia I was able to learn more about basketball, the in depth part of the game through the coachs eye, and I feel as though I can use that to my advantage. Also, I played against quality players, so that will also help me translate my game there (Japan), Tapscott added.
At 24 years old, Tapscott has played professionally in Luxembourg, France, NBA D-League training camp, and Australia since finishing school at Portland State University. It has been an unforgettable journey, and Tapscott hopes to keep it going by playing in the bj League this Fall. It's been very fun, the only down part was not making the (Maine) Red Claws team, but other than that I couldn't ask for better places to go. And yes, I hope to continue this until I can't play any longer. I'm having the time of my life traveling, Tapscott concluded.
Ex-Vikings power Bellingham Slam rout of Kitsap - 13 days ago
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The Bellingham Slam received contributions from a number of former Western Washington University players as they routed the Kitsap Admirals, 110-89, in Seattle Pro-Am action at Royal Brougham Pavilion on Saturday. Led by guard Taylor Stafford (6'1''-G-94, college: W.Washington) who tallied a game-high 38 points, seven ex-Vikings scored the Slam and accounted for over two-thirds of Bellingham's total offensive production. Stafford dazzled the crowd with perhaps the best shooting performanc... [read more]
The Bellingham Slam received contributions from a number of former Western Washington University players as they routed the Kitsap Admirals, 110-89, in Seattle Pro-Am action at Royal Brougham Pavilion on Saturday. Led by guard Taylor Stafford (6'1''-G-94, college: W.Washington) who tallied a game-high 38 points, seven ex-Vikings scored the Slam and accounted for over two-thirds of Bellingham's total offensive production. Stafford dazzled the crowd with perhaps the best shooting performance of the Pro-Am's young season. He finished with five three-pointers and was 9-for-11 on his shots from inside the arc. Leading 49-42 at the half, guard Paul Hafford (6'5''-G/F-84, college: Portland St.) opened the third quarter with a three-pointer and sparked a 14-2 run for the Slam which extended the lead to 63-44. By the time the quarter had ended, the rout was on as Bellingham pushed its advantage to 88-61. With the outcome no longer in doubt, the Slam used the fourth quarter as an opportunity to find minutes for all 12 players on its active roster. Forward Sterling Somers (6'5''-F) nailed a pair of three-pointers while guard Kosei Ban (5'6''-PG) sank the Slam's tenth trey of the day just as time expired. In addition to the seven former Western players who suited up for the Slam, current Vikings forward Trevor Jasinsky and center Logan Schilder saw time on the court for the Admirals. Stafford was one of three players to score in double figures for the Slam, which saw scoring contributions from all 12 active players. Hafford finished with 12 points while forward Anye Turner (6'8''-F-92, college: W.Washington) narrowly missed out on a double-double with 10 points and 9 rebounds. For Kitsap, forwards Dominic Green and Jeff Perkins led the way with 17 and 14 points, respectively. The Slam defense held the Admirals to 36 percent field goal shooting on the day. In keeping with the team-first style of play which led to many successful seasons in the International Basketball League, the Slam has posted a total of 55 assists in their first two Pro-Am games this season to lead the league. The Slam returns to action on Sunday as they battle Team N.F.A., which boasts a number of big names on its roster, including Spencer Hawes (7'1''-C-88, college: Washington), Dejounte Murray (6'4''-G-96, college: Washington) and Martell Webster (6'7''-G-86). Tip-off is set for 1:30pm at Seattle Pacific University's Royal Brougham Pavilion. Courtesy of: kpug1170.com
LC alum Hafford stars for Slam in Seattle Pro-Am - 11 months ago
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Former Lynden Christian standout Paul Hafford (6'5''-G/F-84, college: Portland St.) has added another successful chapter to his basketball career. Hafford, a 2002 LC graduate, averaged a team-high 22.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game this summer while leading the Bellingham Slam to a 7-3 record and a Seattle Pro-Am semifinal appearance. The sharp-shooting guard closed the season on a tear, scoring 40-plus points in two of the team's final three contests. Hafford began the do... [read more]
Former Lynden Christian standout Paul Hafford (6'5''-G/F-84, college: Portland St.) has added another successful chapter to his basketball career. Hafford, a 2002 LC graduate, averaged a team-high 22.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game this summer while leading the Bellingham Slam to a 7-3 record and a Seattle Pro-Am semifinal appearance. The sharp-shooting guard closed the season on a tear, scoring 40-plus points in two of the team's final three contests. Hafford began the dominant late-season stretch with a career-high 44-point performance in the Slam's regular-season finale, a 135-114 win over Guard Up on Aug. 20. The LC alum exploded for 33 first-half points and tied his own team record with 10 3-pointers in the game. He also had eight rebounds and nine assists. In a rematch the following day, Hafford posted a triple-double to lead the fourth-seeded Slam to a commanding 129-90 quarterfinal win over fifth-seeded Guard Up. Hafford finished with 21 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists. The Slam's season came to an end on Saturday, Aug. 27, with a 111-108 semifinal loss to eventual champion Brand Black, which included former NBA first-round draft pick Terrence Williams. But Hafford turned in another impressive performance, recording 40 points and seven 3-pointers. He finished 37.6 percent from 3-point range for the season and 31-of-33 (93.9 percent) from the free-throw line. Hafford was one of 16 Pro-Am players selected to the compete in the league's All-Star Game, an Aug. 14 exhibition that included appearances by Seattle-area NBA players Jamal Crawford (6'5''-G-80, college: Michigan), Zach LaVine (6'5''-G-95, college: UCLA), Nate Robinson (5'9''-PG-84, college: Washington), Spencer Hawes (7'1''-C-88, college: Washington) and Dejounte Murray. Hafford also participated in the 3-point contest that preceded the game. This was the Slam's first time competing in the Seattle Pro-Am, one of the nation's premier summer basketball circuits. Over the course of the summer, Hafford and the Slam faced NBA star Paul George; former University of Washington stars Tre Simmons, Abdul Gaddy, Tre Simmons; and former Gonzaga University star Gary Bell Jr. The Slam were previously a member of the International Basketball League, where they won three consecutive titles up until the league folded in 2014. After not playing last summer, the Slam found a home in the Seattle Pro-Am. While at LC, Hafford led the Lyncs to a second-place finish in the 2001 2A state tournament and a third-place finish in 2002. He set a 2A tournament record with 118 total points in 2002. Hafford went on to play for North Idaho College and Whitworth University before playing two seasons of Division I basketball for Portland State University, where he graduated in 2007. Hafford played with the Slam for five seasons from 2008 to 2012 and won a pair of IBL titles with the team. He was a four-time IBL All-Star and ranks third on the IBL career points list. He also has played professionally in Romania, Norway, China and Australia. Courtesy of:
Bellingham Slam has sights set on four-peat this weekend - 11 months ago
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The Bellingham Slam have a chance for a fourth straight league championship this weekend as the Seattle Pro-Am playoffs continue on Saturday. The Slam face Brand Black in the semifinals at 1:30 p.m. at Seattle Pacific University's Royal Brougham Pavilion. If Bellingham wins, they'll advance to Sunday's championship game [read more]
The Bellingham Slam have a chance for a fourth straight league championship this weekend as the Seattle Pro-Am playoffs continue on Saturday. The Slam face Brand Black in the semifinals at 1:30 p.m. at Seattle Pacific University's Royal Brougham Pavilion. If Bellingham wins, they'll advance to Sunday's championship game. The Slam, competing in the Seattle Pro-Am for the first time following seven seasons as a member of the International Basketball League, posted a 6-2 regular season record and advanced to the semi-finals with a 129-90 win against Guard Up in the quarterfinals on August 21. A title win on Sunday would give the Slam four straight league championships, after winning the last three IBL titles from 2012 until the league folded following the 2014 season. Courtesy of: kpug1170.com
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