Jerel McNeal of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and Brandon Costner of the Utah Flash were today named NBA Development League Co-Performers of the Week for games played during the week of Feb. 21.
McNeal, a 6-3, 200-pound guard out of Marquette who spent the NBA preseason with the Houston Rockets, led the Vipers to a 4-0 record on the week, averaging 20.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.8 assists.
Costner, a 6-9, 235-pound forward out of North Carolina State who has played in the NBA Summer League with the Chicago Bulls, led the Flash to a 3-0 record last week, averaging 21.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists.
This week’s honorable mention selections were Austin’s Marcus Cousin, who averaged 18.7 points and 10.3 rebounds in three games; Dakota’s Anthony Goods, who averaged 29.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists in two games; Erie’s Tasmin Mitchell, who averaged 28.0 points and 7.7 rebounds in three games; Iowa’s Othyus Jeffers, who averaged 22.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists in three games; Maine’s DeShawn Sims, who averaged 27.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in two games; New Mexico’s Shane Edwards, who averaged 26.0 points and 8.5 rebounds in two games; Sioux Falls’ Patrick Ewing Jr., who averaged 21.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists in three games; Springfield’s JamesOn Curry, who averaged 20.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.3 steals in two games; and Tulsa’s Elijah Millsap, who averaged 20.7 points and 6.7 rebounds in three games.
May 2011 Basketball Wiretap
The Milwaukee Bucks have recalled rookie forward Larry Sanders from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Indiana) of the NBA Development League (D-League), General Manager John Hammond announced on Saturday.
In two games for the Mad Ants, Sanders averaged 10.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots in 27.5 minutes per contest. Sanders was initially assigned to Fort Wayne on February 20.
Jeff Adrien has agreed to a contract to return to the Warriors, according to a source.
Adrien was the D-League Player of the Month in January and was previously with the Warriors this season.
Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced today that the team has recalled center Byron Mullens from the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Development League.
During his two assignments this season with Tulsa, Mullens has appeared in six games (six starts) and averaged 16.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots in 31.7 minutes per game.
The Celtics signed Chris Johnson of the NBA Development League's Dakota Wizards to a 10-day contract.
Johnson, an intriguing shot blocker, has already been called up one other time this season on a 10-day contract with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Johnson was in the lineup for Boston in Thursday's game at Denver.
Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe reports Johnson is wearing the old No. 88 jersey of Semih Erden with a patch covering the nameplate.
The Portland Trail Blazers recalled guard Armon Johnson from the NBA Development League's Idaho Stampede, it was announced Tuesday by general manager Rich Cho.
In nine games (one start) with the Stampede, Johnson notched averages of 18.2 points (59.7% FG), 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 27.6 minutes. He netted more than 20 points in five games.
Johnson, 21, is averaging 3.1 points, 1.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 8.1 minutes in 28 games this season with the Trail Blazers.
The Bulls, who have long been looking for a shooting guard, have invited four D-League players to audition for the team on Tuesday, according to league sources.
Orien Greene of the Utah Flash, Tulsa 66ers rookie Jerome Dyson, Stephen Dennis of the Bakersfield Jam and Rio Grande Valley guard Matt Janning will all work out in Chicago in hopes of signing a 10-day contract.
The Bulls have been linked to Houston's Courtney Lee and Cleveland's Anthony Parker.
The Milwaukee Bucks have assigned rookie forward Larry Sanders to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Indiana) of the NBA Development League (D-League), General Manager John Hammond announced today.
“This is an opportunity for Larry to receive regular minutes and continue his skill development,” Hammond said. “We’re looking forward to seeing his progress as he works with Coach Meyer and his Fort Wayne teammates.”
Sanders, 22, was drafted by the Bucks with the 15th overall selection out of Virginia Commonwealth University in the 2010 NBA Draft.
Courtney Sims of the Iowa Energy, who previously captured Co-MVP honors in the 2009 NBA Development League All-Star Game in Phoenix, doubled his pleasure in Los Angeles, scoring 25 points on 10-for-13 shooting on his way to hoisting his second NBA D-League All-Star MVP Trophy at the 2011 NBA D-League All-Star Game.
Maine’s DeShawn Sims added 20 points for the East All-Stars, who used a late run in the second half to post a 115-108 victory over the West All-Stars in front of a packed house on Center Court at NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas.
“I like competing against the best competition, and this league has a ton of good players, many who could or should be in the NBA,” said Sims, who’s appeared in five NBA games with the Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks since graduating from Michigan in 2007. “Everyone says I’m very close to making it, and some people feel that I’m an NBA player. Not everyone gets the chance, and you just have to make the most of the opportunity if and when it comes.”
Scottie Reynolds (Springfield Armor), Cedric Jackson (Idaho Stampede), Marcus Landry (Reno Bighorns) and Jerel McNeal (Rio Grande Valley Vipers) were today selected to replace Dexter Pittman (Sioux Falls Skyforce), Zabian Dowdell (Tulsa 66ers), Trey Johnson (Bakersfield Jam) and Mustafa Shakur (Rio Grande Valley Vipers) in the 2011 NBA D-League All-Star Game presented by SonoSite.
Jackson, a 6-2, 190-pound guard out of Cleveland State, earned three GATORADE Call-Ups last season (Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Washington Wizards) and ranks fifth in the league in assists this season (7.2). Landry, a 6-7, 225-pound forward out of Wisconsin, played 18 games last season with the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, and his 76 three-pointers this year ranks second in the league. McNeal, a 6-3, 200-pound forward out of Marquette, is the league’s fifth-leading scorer, averaging 18.8 points per game for Rio Grande Valley. Reynolds, the 6-2, 190-pound guard out of Villanova, ranks among the league leaders in assists (6.2 apg, 7th) and steals (2.0 spg, 7th), and owns the league’s highest single-game assist total this season (18).
Reynolds will play for the East, while Jackson, Landry and McNeal will play for the West.