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.
Slam finishes Seattle Pro-Am regular season with first-ever OT win - 8 months ago
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The Bellingham Slam received a late game-tying put-back from center Austin Bragg (6'9''-F/C-91, college: W.Washington), then pulled away in overtime as they defeated Team Worldwide in a Seattle Pro-Am thriller, 110-103, at Royal Brougham Pavilion on Saturday. Remarkably, it was the first time the Slam had posted an overtime victory in team history, having gone 0-for-5 in previous games which required extra time. Thanks to hot outside shooting from forward Jordan Hamilton (6'7''-F-90, coll... [read more]
The Bellingham Slam received a late game-tying put-back from center Austin Bragg (6'9''-F/C-91, college: W.Washington), then pulled away in overtime as they defeated Team Worldwide in a Seattle Pro-Am thriller, 110-103, at Royal Brougham Pavilion on Saturday. Remarkably, it was the first time the Slam had posted an overtime victory in team history, having gone 0-for-5 in previous games which required extra time. Thanks to hot outside shooting from forward Jordan Hamilton (6'7''-F-90, college: Texas), the Slam built up a 14-point lead halfway into the third quarter, at 70-56. But Worldwide rallied late in the frame, closing with a 12-0 run to trim Bellingham's lead to one, at 73-72. The fourth quarter featured some riveting back-and-forth play, with Worldwide eventually building a five-point lead, at 94-89, with three minutes left on a bucket by forward Nahziah Carter (6'6''-G/F). The Slam got within two after Hamilton sank a three, his sixth of the game, with two minutes to go, and then tied the score at 94-94 a possession later on free throws from guard Paul Hafford (6'5''-G/F-84, college: Portland St.). Worldwide briefly took the lead back when former Husky center Robert Upshaw (7'0''-C-94, college: Washington) scored with under a minute remaining, but Bragg made sure the game went to an extra session as he scored with just seconds left, battling down low in gritty fashion as he converted a put-back on a third try following a miss and blocked shot. Bragg opened overtime with a statement dunk just 10 seconds in to get the Slam off on the right track, as the never trailed in the extra period. A pair of floaters from guard Preston Vermeulen (6'2''-G-83), suiting up for the Slam for the first time, helped push the advantage to six. The Slam slipped slightly midway through overtime, as a pair of sloppy possessions allowed Worldwide to get back within one, at 104-103, but guard Morris Anderson (6'3''-G-87, college: W.Washington) helped to ice the victory by scoring twice off of timely turnovers by Worldwide. Hamilton led all scorers with 37 points, marking the first time this season a player other than Taylor Stafford, who did not play, earned high scorer honors. Bragg enjoyed his best game of the season with a double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Vermeulen finished with 16 points in an impressive Pro-Am debut. Not to be outdone, Anderson quietly posted a triple-double consisting of 14 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. Team Worldwide was led by the 35 points and game-high 20 rebounds of Robert Upshaw. With the victory, the Slam's 2017 regular season is complete and the team now awaits the finish of the rest of the league's schedule on Sunday. With a 5-3 record, the Slam has clinched a Pro-Am postseason berth but must wait to learn the opponent and start time for their first round playoff game, which will take place on August 19 at Royal Brougham Pavilion. Courtesy of: kpug1170.com
Ex-Vikings power Bellingham Slam rout of Kitsap - 9 months 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 - 2 Years 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:
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