Storm Point Guard Enters NBA Draft
April 17, 2013 - National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada)
Summerside Storm News Release
(Summerside, PE) Yahoo Sports has announced that Summerside STORM point guard Josiah Turner has decided to enter the National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft Thursday June 27th. Turner helped lead the STORM to the NBL Canada Finals this season.
Turner, a 6'3 pure point guard from Sacramento, California, was the 11th overall ranked prospect in the class of 2011 according to Rivals.com and a high profile recruit to Arizona University, where he averaged 6.8 points, 2.4 assists and 3.1 rebounds over 29 games in his Freshman season.
Turner was a high profile signing for the Halifax Rainmen to start this season in NBL, who began the campaign with high hopes for their young and talented roster, coached by former NBA Champion Cliff Levingston. However, the Rainmen parted ways with coach Cliff Levingston just five games into the season after a 2-3 start. The Rainmen brought in new coach Rob Spon and after losing 3 straight with Turner at the point heading into a December 23rd road game against the Moncton Miracles, the Rainmen decided to release him.
Nearly three weeks passed before Turner was picked up by Halifax's Atlantic-Division rivals, the Summerside Storm on January 21st. Upon joining the Storm (exactly a month since his last appearance with the Rainmen), Turner had to prove himself all over again, as he was now backing up Storm fan-favourite Al Stewart, the reigning NBLC Defensive Player of the Year. However, Turner impressed in what were initially limited minutes, and continued to earn the trust of Storm Coach Joe Salerno as the Storm ended the regular season on a seven game winning streak, clinching the Atlantic Conference and second playoff seed.
Despite missing a full month in the middle of the season, and stretches of limited minutes throughout, Turner's season totals (including Playoffs) of 195 assists was 8th best in the NBLC, while his 52 steals was 15th best, 392 points was 37th best and 139 rebounds.
In his 23 regular season and playoff games with the Storm, Turner had 140 assists to 45 turnovers for a 3.11 A/TO ratio, which would be second best in the NBLC behind his teammate Al Stewart.
Allan April of Sportstream.ca had this to say about Turner today, "If I were an NBA General Manager, I would certainly scout Turner, and strongly consider drafting him with a second round selection. The Toronto Raptors, who held their training camp in Halifax during October, scouted Turner with the Rainmen and from all accounts were very impressed and saw NBA potential in the young Californian."
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National Basketball League of Canada Stories from April 17, 2013
- Storm Point Guard Enters NBA Draft - Summerside Storm
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