Amaya and Poole Returning to Bellingham Slam
Published on March 21, 2012 under International Basketball League (IBL)
Bellingham Slam News Release
Bellingham, Wash. - Forward Tyler Amaya and center Blake Poole will be returning to the Bellingham Slam lineup for the 2012 International Basketball League season following stints overseas, the team announced today.
Amaya has been playing professionally for Al-Jubail in Saudi Arabia this winter, leading his team in scoring with 29.4 points per game. He scored 50 points in a game against Al-Kweldeeh on February 2.
Amaya has been the most well-traveled player in the Slam's history, suiting up for teams in Tunisia, Syria, New Zealand, China, Germany and the Netherlands since graduating from Western Washington in 2006.
Amaya has played portions of the past four seasons in theIBL for Bellingham, and was instrumental in helping the Slam capture the IBL championship in 2008. He was the Slam's leading scorer and rebounder in 2009 with averages of 23.6 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.
Amaya's exact return date to Bellingham is still uncertain as he finishes up Al-Jubail's season in the Saudi Premier League, but it is anticipated that he won't miss more than two or three of the Slam's first regular season games.
Blake Poole will be back in Bellingham for his second season in a Slam uniform following his first season abroad in Europe. Poole just wrapped up a stellar season playing for BG Dorsten in Germany's ProB league. He was of the league's top rookies, averaging 14.9 points and a league-leading 12.9 rebounds per game. He was a three-time Player of the Week in Germany and also picked up Player of the Month honors last November.
Poole provided a valuable presence in the post for the Slam in 2011, and as one of the IBL's top rookies, he led Bellingham and was fourth in the league in rebounding with 10.9 boards per game and was tied for fifth on the team in scoring with 12.5 points per game.
Poole joined the Slam after completing his collegiate career at Saint Martin's University last spring, finishing fourth in scoring and first in rebounding as a senior in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, with averages of 19.3 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. He was named the 2010-11 GNAC Player of the Year and also an NCAA Division-II All-American.
Poole has already wrapped up his season in Germany and will be heading back to Bellingham in time for the start of the team's training camp in early April.
The Slam start the 2012 IBL season on the road in Olympia on Friday, April 20, before hosting their home opener on Saturday, April 21 against the Salem Soldiers. Tip-off is set for 7pm at Whatcom Pavilion.
Prior to the start of the regular season, the team will also be holding an intra-squad scrimmage which is open to the public on Friday, April 13 at 7pm at Lynden High School.
International Basketball League Stories from March 21, 2012
- Amaya and Poole Returning to Bellingham Slam - Bellingham Slam
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