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March 4, 2014 - NBA G League (G League) News Release


MITCHELL REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

It's been an interesting flight for Tony Mitchell since leaving Alabama early, entering the 2012 NBA Draft and going undrafted. (Ride hardly seems sufficient for the two-time winner of the NBA D-League's Slam Dunk Contest, and one of the greatest dunkers on the planet.)

He had to check some baggage -- he was dismissed from Alabama for conduct detrimental to the team -- before settling in with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants last season, where he appeared in 48 games and averaged 21.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists on his way to being named the NBA D-League's Rookie of the Year.

When no NBA calls came in the Fall, Mitchell headed to China, appearing in 11 games with the Jilin Northeast Tigers. Mitchell returned to the Mad Ants in January and has averaged 19.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks in 27 appearances (seven starts) this season.

Today, the Milwaukee Bucks have signed Mitchell (6-6, 216) to a 10-day contract. Mitchell is the 28th GATORADE Call-Up of the 2013-14 season from the NBA D-League.

Mitchell, who averaged 15.2 points as a sophomore at Alabama and was named Second Team All-SEC, is clearly an NBA athlete, with tremendous bounce and length. He's improved his range as a shooter, and continues to work on becoming a better defender.

Whether he gets a serious opportunity remains to be seen. It's been a bit of a lost season for the Bucks, who without the services of Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis, coupled with several key injuries, have gone from a playoff team in 2013, to owners of the NBA's worst record this season.

NEWS & NOTES

Charlotte Signs Sioux Falls' Justin Hamilton

Charlotte Bobcats President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins announced today that the team has signed center Justin Hamilton to a 10-day contract. Hamilton joins the Bobcats from the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA D-League, becoming the 29th Gatorade Call-Up this season. In 37 games with the Skyforce this season, the 7-0 Hamilton is averaging 19.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.5 assists in 35.8 minutes, while shooting .491 from the field, .385 from beyond the three-point line and .812 from the free-throw line. Hamilton leads in the NBA D-League in offensive rebounding, while ranking fifth in blocks, sixth in rebounding and 16th in scoring. Hamilton was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 45th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft before having his rights traded to the Miami Heat. He spent the 2012-13 season playing internationally, first for KK Cibona in Croatia and later for VEF Riga in Latvia.

Tulsa's Mustafa Shakur Named NBA D-League Player of the Month

Tulsa 66ers' guard Mustafa Shakur was named NBA Development League Player of the Month for games played in February. Shakur (6-3, 190, Arizona) led Tulsa to a league-best 8-2 record, including a 5-1 record on the road and a five game winning streak following the All-Star break. He averaged 20.4 points on .462 shooting, to go along with 7.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 3.0 steals. His 30 steals in February were a league best. Shakur scored in double figures in all 10 games, including five games where he scored at least 20 points. On Feb. 11, Shakur posted career highs with 32 points and 11 rebounds vs. the Iowa Energy. It was one of his four double-doubles for the month (three points-assists and one points-rebounds). On Feb. 8 and Feb. 21, Shakur recorded season-highs with 12 assists, in a 102-95 win over the Delaware 87ers and 144-120 victory over the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, respectively. For the season, Shakur is averaging 17.0 points, 6.0 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 steals (tied for fifth in the league).

Tulsa's Reggie Williams Named NBA D-League Performer of the Week

The Tulsa 66ers' Reggie Williams today was named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Monday, Feb. 24 - Sunday, March 3. Williams, a 6-6, 210-pound guard from Virginia Military Institute, helped Tulsa to a 3-0 week and averaged 25.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals. He shot .549 from the floor and connected on 12-of-22 three-point attempts. On March 2, Williams recorded a season-high 31 points and added eight rebounds, four assists and two steals in a 128-120 win over the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. The win extended Tulsa's winning streak to six. On the season, Williams is averaging 20.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.6 steals.

AROUND THE D-LEAGUE

The Erie BayHawks have released guard Chris Smith. Smith (6-2, 200, Louisville) averaged 8.1 points and 3.3 rebounds for the BayHawks in 23 appearances (eight starts). He became the third New York Knicks assignee to play in a game for Erie when he was assigned to the BayHawks to start the NBA D-League season. Following his release from the Knicks on Dec. 31, he was claimed by Erie as a free agent ... The Golden State Warriors have assigned guard Nemanja Nedovic to the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA D-League. Nedovic has appeared in five games (all starts) for Santa Cruz this season, compiling averages of 19.0 points, 3.6 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.60 steals in 29.2 minutes ... The Santa Cruz Warriors have added forward Lance Goulbourne to the roster. Goulbourne, 24, appeared in 35 games with the Santa Cruz Warriors last season, averaging 5.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in 17.9 minutes per contest. The 6-8, 230-pound forward out of Vanderbilt played for the Golden State Warriors Summer League squad in Las Vegas last July, averaging 6.9 points and 5.6 rebounds in seven games.


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