Brevard Blue Ducks renew first two players from last season
Published on February 24, 2003 under United States Basketball League (USBL)
Brevard Blue Ducks News Release
Melbourne, FL â Three down, nine to go.
The Brevard Blue Ducks today announced that they've received contracts back on two of their players from last season.
D.J. Harrison, one of two Blue Ducks rookies last year, will be returning to the club. A 6"7' forward from Colorado, Harrison saw limited minutes during the season, but is one of the young players the Blue Ducks hope to develop into an NBA hopeful. Seeing only 9 minutes a game, in 11 games Harrison averaged 2.5 PPG and 2.4 RPG while shooting 44% from the field.
Darryl Hardy, a 6"8' 240-pound forward from Winston Salem State, who was averaging close to a double-double, with 12.2 PPG and 9.8 RPG before going down with an ankle injury early in the season, is someone Ducks owner Mike Richman is glad to see coming back.
"We're very happy to have both guys coming back to the Blue Ducks," commented Richman. "D.J. is a great guy to have on the team. He listens, gives 100% and has a lot of potential to develop into a really good player. As for Darryl, we are delighted to have him back. He was a terror on the court early in the season. He was a legitimate scoring threat and really cleaned the glass for us. I'm really happy to see him come back from his injury and am looking forward to seeing what he can do for us this season."
Harrison and Hardy will be joining former Orlando Magic player, Dennis Scott in the Blue Ducks lineup.
The Ducks will find their remaining players through a variety of channels. Their first priority is to bring back their protected players from last season. They are also looking at the many quality free agents available in the market. Then there is also an open tryout, which will be held March 29th at the Clemente Center in Melbourne. Follwing that, the annual USBL college draft that will be held on April 8th.
The Blue Ducks begin their second season in the United States Basketball League (USBL) on April 19th, playing at the Clemente Center at Florida Tech, in Melbourne.
In their inaugural season, led by former NBA star Harvey Grant - twin brother of the Magic's Horace Grant, the Blue Ducks posted the best record in the USBL and took home the Eastern Conference Championship.
The USBL, serves as a minor league to the NBA and is the oldest continuously running minor league in the United States. It has sent over 140 players to the NBA in its 18-year existence.
NBA stars such as Anthony Mason, Chris Childs, Mugsy Bogues, Spud Webb, Charlie Ward, Avery Johnson and Orlando's own Darrell Armstrong all got their start in the USBL.
United States Basketball League Stories from February 24, 2003
- Brevard Blue Ducks sign two more free agents - Brevard Blue Ducks
- Brevard Blue Ducks sign free agent Fife - Brevard Blue Ducks
- Brevard Blue Ducks renew first two players from last season - Brevard Blue Ducks
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