Another Blue Duck inches closer to Big Show
October 5, 2004 - United States Basketball League (USBL)
Brevard Blue Ducks News Release
Melbourne, FL â Brevard forward Ousmane Cisse this week became the third Blue Duck to be signed by an NBA team, joining the Toronto Raptors organization. He joins fellow Ducks Terrence Shannon (Detroit Pistons) and last season's USBL "Rookie of the Year" Tony Bland (Sacramento Kings) as the trio vie for spots on their respective squads during the NBA pre-season.
A 6-9, 250-pound power forward with great leaping ability and a 7-4 wingspan, Cisse, who went straight from St. Jude high school in Montgomery, Alabama to the NBA's Denver Nuggets as a 2nd round draft pick in 2001, set a USBL record with 12 blocked shots in a single game in 2003, a year in which he led the league in that category.
As unbelievable as that statistic sounds, what's more unbelievable is that he averaged 12 blocked shots per game at St. Jude in his senior year. That, along with 29 PPG and 16 RPG made him a McDonald's All-American and put him high on the prospect list of NBA general managers. Unfortunately, an ACL injury sustained during his senior season caused him to drop down to the second round (47th overall) of the draft. Not fully recovered from his injury, the Nuggets cut him prior to the start of the regular season. It's been a journey through the minor leagues for him since, in an effort to get back to the NBA.
After his superb 2003 season with the Blue Ducks, Cisse played with the Orlando Magic as a member of their pre-season squad last year. He also played with the Golden State Warriors in the Southern California Summer Pro League this past July.
"We are very happy for Ousmane," stated Ducks owner Mike Richman. "It's been a long road for him to make it back to the NBA. He's a great player, a great worker and a super human being. He deserves another shot and we hope he makes the best of it."
DUCK NOTES: With three talented Blue Ducks leaving the nest, the Blue Ducks are faced with the task of replacing that talent.
"That is the dichotomy known as minor league basketball," remarked Richman. "We're here to develop talent for the NBA. The better we do in developing our talent, the more apt we are to lose that talent quickly. I'm happy though because it shows the talent level we have in our league. The USBL in its history has sent about 150 players on the NBA. It's done this because its teams recruit the very best basketball players we can find in the world."
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United States Basketball League Stories from October 5, 2004
- Another Blue Duck inches closer to Big Show - Brevard Blue Ducks
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