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American Conf. All-Stars Announced

January 6, 2003 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Ohio Valley Greyhounds News Release


Boise, Idaho (January 6, 2003)— The Continental Basketball Association announced today the 10 players who have been selected for the 2003 CBA American Conference All-Star Team. All-Star game participants were voted on by CBA head coaches and beat writers. The National Conference roster will be announced on Tuesday, January 7.

Rockford Lightning Head Coach Chris Daleo, who was announced yesterday as the American Conference Head Coach, will lead a squad comprised of three Lightning players, three Grand Rapids Hoops, and two players each from the Gary Steelheads and Great Lakes Storm. Daleo and Dakota Wizards Head Coach Dave Joerger earned head coaching honors by having each conference's highest quarter point average through games of January 4.

The festivities begin at 9 a.m. CST, January 13, when the National Conference squad will hold a public practice at the Sioux Falls Arena. The American Conference will run drills at 11 a.m., and at 4:30 p.m. the All-Star Fan Jam begins, featuring the Slam-Dunk Competition and Long Distance-Shootout. There will be an All-Star Reception at 7:00 p.m. in the arena.

Both clubs will conduct shootarounds at 10:00 a.m. (National) and 11:30 p.m. (American), which are open to the public, on Tuesday, January 14. The 19th CBA All-Star Game will tip-off at 7:05 p.m. During the contest, reporters and NBA scouts will make their selection for All-Star Most Valuable Player honors, to be announced after the game.

Following is the list of American Conference All-Stars and some of their notable statistics:

LARRY AYUSO – G, 6-3, 200, Grand Rapids Hoops (Southern California '98): First All-Star selection...Currently ranks 5th in CBA in scoring (22.0 ppg) and 2nd in free throw percentage (78-87, .897)...Posted a career high 38 points on Nov. 22 and Dec. 15, both versus the Rockford Lightning...Played for the Puerto Rican National Team at the 2002 World Championships...Played last three seasons overseas in Puerto Rico and Italy...Completed his college career ranked second on the Trojans all-time three point percentage list...Named to the Pac 10 All-Newcomer First Team in 1997.

RONNIE FIELDS – G, 6-3, 205, Rockford Lightning (Farragut Academy H.S. '96): First All-Star selection...Currently ranks 9th in CBA in scoring (19.4 ppg) and 18th in assists (3.4 apg)...Scored a personal season high 32 points in the Lightning's season opener on Nov. 16 versus the Great Lakes Storm...In 20 games for the Grand Rapids Hoops in 1999-00 he averaged 7.3 ppg...Was the only player to suit up in all 56 Lightning games in 1998-99, leading the team in points scored (773), free throws made (214), free throws attempted (266), and steals (112, ranking 4th in the league)...Averaged 13.8 ppg in 1998-99 despite starting in only 19 games...Won two American Conference Player of the Week awards in 1998-99...Tallied 28 points in four games for the CBA's La Crosse Bobcats in 1997-98...Averaged 7.4 ppg in 34 games for the Lightning in 1996-97...Named to the 1997 CBA All-Rookie Second Team...Selected in the 7th round (73rd overall) of the 1996 CBA Draft by La Crosse...Will defend 1997 Slam Dunk Title...Named Illinois "Mr. Basketball" in 1996 as a senior at Farragut Academy High School.

JAMES HEAD – 6-7, 230, Great Lakes Storm (Eastern Michigan '98): Second All-Star Selection (2002)...Currently ranks 11th in CBA in scoring (17.7 ppg) and 16th in rebounding (6.5 rpg)...Tallied a personal season high 35 points on Dec. 14 versus the Gary Steelheads...Posted 17.8 ppg and 8.3 rpg in 36 games for the CBA's Flint Fuze in 2001-02...Earned CBA National Conference Player of the Week Honors (2/17/02-2/23/02) after posting 28.7 ppg and 9.7 rpg...Scored 10 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in 9 games for the Rockford Lightning and Idaho Stampede in 1999-00.

CORY HIGHTOWER – 6-7, 200, Great Lakes Storm (Indian Hills CC '00): First All-Star Selection...Currently ranks 1st in CBA in scoring (23.9 ppg)...Sunk a CBA season high 16 free throws on Dec. 21 versus the Dakota Wizards...Scored a personal season high 37 points on Dec. 21 and on Dec. 28 versus the Grand Rapids Hoops...Averaged 11.8 ppg in 21 games for the Gary Steelheads and Rockford Lightning in 2001-02...Scored 12 points in 2 games for Gary in 2000-01...Drafted by the Gary Steelheads in the 5th round (41st pick) of the 2000 CBA Draft and by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2nd round (54th pick) of the 2000 NBA Draft...Averaged 22.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, and 4.4 apg in two seasons at Indian Hills (IA) CC...Led school to a 28-5 record his sophomore season.

JERALD HONEYCUTT – F, 6-9, 265, Grand Rapids Hoops (Tulane '97): First All-Star selection...Currently ranks 2nd in CBA in scoring (23.2 ppg), 6th in rebounding (9.9 rpg), and 4th in blocks (1.2 bpg)...Earned CBA American Conference Player of the Week Honors (12/08-12/14) after averaging 23.7 ppg, 12.6 rpg, and 5.3 apg...Posted CBA season highs in field goals (19) and field goal attempts (34), and a personal season high in points (43) on Dec. 3 versus the Gary Steelheads...Played last two seasons overseas in the Philippines, Greece, and Russia...Tallied 18.6 ppg and 7.9 rpg in 36 games for the Idaho Stampede in 1999-00...Began 1998-99 season with the Milwaukee Bucks before being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers...Drafted by Bucks in the second round (39th overall) of the 1997-98 NBA Draft and averaged 6.4 ppg and 2.4 rpg in his rookie season...Finished college career as Tulane's all-time leader in points (2,209), assists (419), three pointers (193), and free throws (434). Named First Team All-Conference for three consecutive seasons (1994-97)...Garnered All-American honorable mention in 1996-97 after becoming the first player in school history to lead the team in scoring (19.9 ppg), rebounding (6.5 rpg), and assists (4.2 apg).

OLIVER MILLER – C, 6-9, 325, Gary Steelheads (Arkansas '92): First All-Star Selection...Currently ranks 1st in CBA in rebounding (14.0 rpg), 1st in blocks (2.8 bpg), 1st in double-doubles (17), and 14th in scoring (17. 5 ppg)...Earned American Conference Player of the Week honors (12/22-12/28) after posting 25.5 ppg, 23.0 rpg, 7.0 apg, and 3.5 bpg...Pulled down a CBA season high 25 rebounds on Dec. 28 versus the Rockford Lightning...Was in Indiana Pacers training camp until late October...Last season averaged 16.1 ppg, 15.1 rpg, and 2.8 bpg in 8 games for the Steelheads...Earned American Conference Player of the Week honors (3/18/02-3/24/02) after posting 19.6 ppg and 20.0 rpg...Played eight seasons (7.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg) in the NBA (1992-2000) for the Phoenix Suns (twice), Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks, and Sacramento Kings...Best NBA season came in 1995-96 when he posted 12.9 ppg and 7.4 rpg in 76 games with the Toronto Raptors...Scored NBA career high 35 points versus the Philadelphia 76ers on April 21, 1996...Blocked NBA career high 9 shots versus the Los Angeles Clippers on April 2, 1996...Pulled down a NBA career high 19 rebounds for the Detroit Pistons versus the Atlanta Hawks on April 3, 1995...Selected in the 1st round (22nd overall) round of the 1992 NBA Draft by Phoenix...Averaged 12.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, and 2.5 bpg in four seasons at Arkansas...In 1990-91, he led the nation in field goal percentage, making 254 of 361 attempts (.704)...Named to All-Southwest Conference Tournament team in 1991.

ERIC MURDOCK – G, 6-3, 190, Grand Rapids Hoops (Providence '91): First All-Star selection...Currently ranks 1st in CBA in assists (8.0 apg), 2nd in steals (2.8 apg), and 13th in scoring (17.7 ppg)...Earned CBA American Conference Player of the Week honors (12/01-12/-07) after averaging 23.3. ppg, 9.0 apg, and 4.7 rpg...In 2000-01 joined the Detroit Pistons but left without seeing game action...Spent portions of previous three seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, New Jersey Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks, Denver Nuggets, and overseas in Italy...In 1995-96 was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Vancouver Grizzlies, leading his new team in steals (129)...Led the Bucks in assists for three straight years (1992-95)...In 1993-94 led Milwaukee in scoring (15.3 ppg), assists (6.7 apg), and steals (2.4 apg)...Finished second on the 1992-93 Most Improved Player ballot, averaging 14.4 ppg and team-highs in assists (7.6 apg) and steals (2.2 spg)...Dished out a career high 27 assists versus the Phoenix Suns on March 26, 1993...Selected by the Utah Jazz in the first round (24th overall) of the 1991 draft and traded to the Bucks at the season's end...Finished college as the NCAA's all time leader in steals (376)...Earned Second Team All-American honors his senior year.

BRYANT NOTREE – G, 6-4, 200, Gary Steelheads (Illinois-Chicago '99): First All-Star selection...Currently ranks 4th in CBA in scoring (22.2 ppg) and 11th in assists (4.3 apg)...Tallied a personal season high 34 points on Dec. 28 versus the Rockford Lightning...Was in the Denver Nuggets 2002 training camp after playing for the Atlanta Hawks in the Shaw's Pro Summer League...Led Illinois-Chicago in scoring (15.0 ppg) and rebounding (6.9 rpg) in senior season...Made All Midwestern Collegiate Conference Second Team and All MCC Newcomer Team...Sat out 1997-98 season due to NCAA transfer regulation after transferring from the University of Illinois.

LIVAN PYFROM – C, 7-0, 260, Rockford Lightning (Creighton '01): First All-Star selection...Currently ranks 2nd in CBA in field goal percentage (86-136, .632), 2nd in blocks (2.4 bpg), and 3rd in rebounding (10.9 rpg)...Posted 25 points and 19 rebounds on Nov. 30 versus the Gary Steelheads...Averaged 9.8 rpg and 3.4 bpg in 13 games for the Gary Steelheads, Sioux Falls Skyforce, and Saskatchewan Hawks in 2001-02...Swatted a CBA season high 9 shots for the Gary Steelheads in a Nov. 17, 2001 game versus the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

ALBERT WHITE – G, 6-6, 235, Rockford Lightning (Missouri '99): First All-Star selection... Currently ranks 3rd in CBA in scoring (22.6) and 13th in rebounding (6.9 rpg)... Scored a personal season high 34 points on Dec.14 versus the Grand Rapids Hoops and Dec. 19 versus the Gary Steelheads... Posted 13.3 ppg and 5.4 rpg in 14 games for the Sioux Falls Skyforce in 2000-01... Tallied 10.3 ppg and 3.1 rpg in 53 games for the Skyforce in 1999-00...Selected in the 5th round (44th overall) of the 1999 CBA Draft by the Skyforce...Averaged 16.5 ppg and 7.9 rpg for Missouri in 1998-99, earning All Big 12 recognition.

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