CBA Announces Western Conference All-Star Team
Published on January 5, 2006 under Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1) News Release
Boise, ID (January 5, 2006) - The Continental Basketball Association announced today the 10 players who have been selected as members of the 2006 Western Conference All-Star team. All-Star game participants were voted on by the eight CBA head coaches and 13 selected media members from the eight markets for a total of 21 votes. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.
The Western Conference squad is comprised of three players each from the conference-leading Yakama Sun Kings and Sioux Falls Skyforce, while the Dakota Wizards and Idaho Stampede each have two members.
Of the six CBA Players of the Week named this season, four appear on the Western Conference All-Star squad. Leading that contingent is Sioux Falls forward Brandon Hunter. Hunter, who leads the league with 15 double-doubles, was the only unanimous selection for this year's All-Star Classic. Hunter received 20 of a possible 20 votes by coaches and media. In addition to Hunter, other former CBA Players of the Week named to the Western Conference team is Dakota guard Maurice Baker, Idaho center Eric Chenowith, and Idaho forward Matt Freije.
The one rookie making the squad is Sioux Falls forward Stephen Graham, who is currently back with the Skyforce after receiving a call-up by the Houston Rockets. Graham was the 7th overall pick by Sioux Falls in the 2005 CBA College Draft, making him the fourth 2005 CBA Draft pick to be playing in the 22nd Annual CBA All-Star Classic.
Of the 10 All-Stars from the Western Conference, five hail from Big 12 Conference schools. Besides Baker (Oklahoma State, Graham (Oklahoma State) and Chenowith (Kansas), Yakama's Cheyne Gadsen (Oklahoma State) and Dakota's Kasib Powell (Texas Tech) are also Big 12 products. Rounding out the team is Yakama guard Antwain Barbour, Sioux Falls guard Rodney Buford, and Yakama forward Leonard White.
The two coaches for the Eastern and Western Conference squads will be announced on Monday, Jan. 9. The coaches will be determined from the teams with the highest quarter-point average in each conference at the conclusion of game #90 on Sunday, Jan. 8.
This year's 22nd Annual All-Star Classic will be held at Qwest Arena in Boise, Idaho, on Tuesday, Jan. 17. The event's title sponsor is Athletes.com and will be hosted by the Idaho Stampede. The Hopkins Financial Slam Dunk competition and the Long Distance Shootout will begin at 6 p.m. (MT) with the All-Star game beginning at 7:15 p.m. (MT).
All-Star activities will begin on Monday, Jan. 16, when the Western Conference team holds practice from 6 - 7 p.m. (MT), before the Eastern Conference team goes from 7 - 8 p.m. at Qwest Arena. Both practices are open to the public. Then on Tuesday, Jan. 17, the Western Conference All-Stars will hold a shoot-around from 10 - 11 a.m., followed by the Eastern Conference All-Stars from 11 a.m. - 12 pm, again at Qwest Arena. Shoot-arounds are not open to the public.
Last year's All-Star game was won by the Eastern Conference, 114-110. The event was held at the Genesis Convention Center in Gary, Ind., in front of 6,683. Idaho's Sam Clancy was named the game's MVP after registering game-highs of 25 points and 17 rebounds. Gary's David Graves captured the Long Distance Shootout while Gary's Renaldo Major won the Slam Dunk competition.
WESTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STAR ROSTER:
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Team
4 Maurice Baker G 6-2 200 Dakota (Oklahoma State '02)
23 Antwain Barbour G 6-5 205 Yakama (Kentucky '04)
32 Rodney Buford G 6-5 200 Sioux Falls (Creighton '99)
50 Eric Chenowith C 7-1 275 Idaho (Kansas '01)
11 Matt Freije F 6-9 245 Idaho (Vanderbilt '04)
13 Cheyne Gadsen G 6-4 205 Yakama (Oklahoma State '03)
22 Stephen Graham* F 6-6 220 Sioux Falls (Okahoma State '05)
44 Brandon Hunter F 6-7 275 Sioux Falls (Ohio '03)
32 Kasib Powell F 6-7 215 Dakota (Texas Tech '03)
35 Leonard White F 6-7 225 Yakama (Southern '03)
* - Rookie
Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from January 5, 2006
- Steelheads Fall at Albany, 124-118 - Gary Steelheads
- Gary Steelheads' Randy Holcomb Called Up by Chicago Bulls - CBA 1
- CBA Transactions - CBA 1
- Chenowith, Freije Make All-Star Team - Idaho Stampede
- CBA Announces Western Conference All-Star Team - CBA 1
- Steelheads' Holcomb Gets NBA Call-Up To Chicago Bulls - Gary Steelheads
- Lightning Team With ESPN 1380 - Rockford Lightning
- Wizards' Baker and Powell Named to the Western Conference All-Star Team - Dakota Wizards
- Skyforce Game Notes - Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Steelheads start hectic stretch - Gary Steelheads
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