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Auburn's Derrick Bird and Dublin Native Jermaine Hall Assigned to Riverdragons

October 2, 2003 - NBA G League (G League)
Columbus Riverdragons News Release


COLUMBUS, Ga.—The National Basketball Association's Development League and the Columbus Riverdragons have announced the signing of Derrick Bird and Jermaine Hall as allocation players. Both Bird and Hall will be assigned to Columbus for the upcoming 2003-04 NBDL season. Bird and Hall will compete for spots on the Riverdragons roster during training camp, which begins on November 8. At least one allocated player must make each NBDL team's 10-player roster and teams must also keep two rookies.

A two-year letterman for the Auburn Tigers, Bird gained recognition as one of the premier defensive guards in the country during the 2001-02 and 2002-03 campaigns under the tutelage of Cliff Ellis. As a senior in 2002-03, Bird averaged 9.8 points per game, shot 37 percent from the three-point range, and 81 percent from the foul line in helping propel the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament and the Sweet Sixteen.

Twice during Auburn's run to the Sweet Sixteen, Bird put forth stellar defensive efforts against two of the top players in college basketball. In the Tigers 79-78 loss to eventual national champion Syracuse in the round of sixteen, Bird tallied 11 points and five assists while holding All-American and future NBA #3 draft pick Carmelo Anthony scoreless in the first half. In Auburn's second round matchup with Wake Forest, Bird registered nine points and held National Player of the Year Josh Howard to 14 points, six below his season average. Howard was also forced into seven turnovers and did not score against Bird over the final 11:16 of regulation.

The 6-4, 195 pound guard out of Ypsilanti, Mich. was named to the CollegeInsider.com 2002 All-America Defensive Team following his junior season with the Tigers, while averaging 10.6 points per game as a starter. For his career at Auburn, Bird averaged 10.1 points, 3 rebounds, and shot 34% from three-point range. He was also named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll with a 3.82 GPA in Sociology this past season.

"I feel real good about this opportunity," said Bird. " I love the city of Auburn and the people there, so it's great to be back in the area. I'm also looking forward to working with Coach [Jeff] Malone. I'll be able to learn a lot from him and not only continue to develop as a defensive player, but also to expand my game offensively."

Hall, a Dublin, Ga. native, comes to the NBDL following a storied career at Wagner University in Staten Island, N.Y.. Over his four years with the Seahawks, Hall averaged 19.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 57.7 percent from the field, and finished as Wagner's all-time leading scorer with 2,278 points. The 2,278 point total also ranks Hall fourth all-time in Northeastern Conference and New York City collegiate basketball history.

This past season, Hall had the finest year of his collegiate career, averaging 21.4 points and 7.2 boards a contest to help lead the Seahawks to their first-ever NCAA Tournament berth under Head Coach and former North Carolina State star Dereck Whittenberg. A unanimous selection for NEC Player of the Year and NEC Tournament Most Valuable Player, Hall ranked fourth in the country in field goals made (273), while leading the Seahawks in scoring in 25 of 32 games. The 6-5, 220 pound forward out of Dublin High School tallied double-doubles against nationally ranked Connecticut (#11, 20 pts, 10 rebs) and Maryland (#20, 26 pts, 10 rebs). A two-time Heart of Georgia Player of the Year in high school, Hall helped lead his team to the 1998 2-AAA Championship.

"I'm excited about having a chance to develop and get to the next level," said Hall. "Getting this opportunity and being able to play close to home is a dream come true. I know that I can bring lots of energy to the team and the experience of playing four solid years in college has prepared me well."

The NBDL, the NBA's minor league, includes the Fayetteville Patriots (N.C.), North Charleston Lowgators (S.C.), Huntsville Flight (Ala.), Roanoke Dazzle (Va.), Columbus Riverdragons (Ga.), and the Asheville Altitude (N.C.).

Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the NBDL serves as a source of on-court talent for the NBA's 29 teams and as a diverse human resources pool for the NBA and its teams by training employees in management, operations, public relations, sales and marketing positions.

The Riverdragons open their 2003-04 home schedule on Friday, November 28th at the Columbus Civic Center against the Asheville Altitude. For more information, log on to www.columbusriverdragons.com or call Riverdragons Media Relations Manager Tim Becwar at 706-225-1104.



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