Slam Re-Sign Three Players To 2010 Roster
Published on March 4, 2010 under International Basketball League (IBL)
Bellingham Slam News Release
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -The Bellingham Slam have taken the first steps towards returning to the International Basketball League championship game as they have re-signed three players who helped the Slam win the league title in 2008.
Guards Brandon Hartley, Paul Hafford and Jacob Stevenson will re-join the Slam for the 2010 season. The announcement was made by general manger Robert Hofstetter.
Hartley, who played collegiately at Saint Martin's, was a key contributor for Bellinghamduring the franchise's first three seasons, but missed the 2009 IBL campaign after sustaining a hamstring injury while playing in Austriathat winter. With the Worthersee Pirates in Austria, Hartley averaged 16 points and three assists per game before the injury sidelined him. In his last season with the Slam in 2008, he averaged 11.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Most recently, Hartley played several games last fall in Chinawith the Beijing Olympian.
Hafford, a graduate from PortlandState, re-joins the Slam for his third season with the club. He recently returned from a short stint in Norwaywhere he averaged 26.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game for the Ulriken Eagles. Last season with Bellingham, Hafford averaged 12.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. In 2008, he was instrumental in helping the Slam claim the IBL championship, as he scored 30 points in the title game and earned game co-MVP honors.
Stevenson, from WesternWashingtonUniversity, has been the longest serving Slam player in team history and has missed only three games since the franchise played their first game in 2005. He has seen his scoring production increase steadily since his rookie season, and was the Slam's second-leading scorer in 2009 with 21 points per game. Stevenson has also been an IBL All-Star team selection the last two seasons.
The Slam will continue to sign players in the coming weeks as they prepare for their season opener on April 9 against the Tacoma Tide. The game will tip-off at 7 p.m.at Whatcom Pavilion.
For more information, contact the Slam at (360) 734-SLAM or visit their website at www.bellinghamslam.com.
International Basketball League Stories from March 4, 2010
- Slam Re-Sign Three Players To 2010 Roster - Bellingham Slam
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