CBA Unveils National All-Stars

Published on January 7, 2003 under Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1) News Release

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

Dakota Wizards Head Coach Dave Joerger, who was announced Sunday as the National Conference Head Coach, will lead a squad comprised of four Wizards, four Yakima Sun Kings, and one player each from the Idaho Stampede and Sioux Falls Skyforce. Joerger and Rockford Lightning Head Coach Chris Daleo 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 National Conference All-Stars and some of their notable statistics:

MALIK DIXON – G, 6-3, 210, Dakota Wizards (Arkansas-Little Rock '98): First All-Star selection...Currently ranks 10th in CBA in scoring (18.2 ppg), 8th in assists (4.8 apg), and 5th in 3 point field goal percentage (33-75, ..440)...Earned National Conference Player of the Week honors (11/24-11/30) after posting 22.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 7.0 apg, and 2.3 spg...Released from Utah Jazz training camp in October...Averaged 16.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg, and 2.5 apg in four-year college career including 20.8 ppg as a senior and 22.1 ppg as a sophomore.

ROSELL ELLIS – F, 6-6, 215, Yakima Sun Kings (McNeese State '97): Second All-Star selection (2001)...Currently ranks 17th in CBA in scoring (14.9 ppg), 5th in steals (2.5 spg), and 2nd in double-doubles (12)...Played 2001-02 season in the Phillipines...Ranked 5th in CBA in scoring (21.8), 5th in rebounding (9.7), 4th in steals (2.5 spg), and 4th in field goal percentage (193-338, .571) in 24 games for the Sun Kings in 2000-01...Earned two National Conference Player of the Week awards in 2000-01...In 55 games for the Sun Kings in 1999-00 he posted 10.2 ppg and 4.6 rpg...Spent previous two season in Argentina...In his senior season at McNeese State averaged 18.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 3.9 apg, and 2.2 spg (1st in Southland Conference)...Averaged 13.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, and 2.5 apg during junior season...Spent first two college years at Eastern Utah JC.

BRIAN GREEN – G, 6-4, 214, Idaho Stampede (Nevada-Reno '97): First All-Star selection...Currently ranks 7th in CBA in scoring (19.5 ppg), and 6th in steals (2.3 spg)...Earned National Conference Player of the Week honors (12/1-12/17) after averaging 21.3 ppg and 8.0 rpg...Scored personal season high 41 points on Nov. 24 versus the Rockford Lightning...Played for San Antonio Spurs in 2002 Shaw's Pro Summer League...Posted 10.5 ppg and 3.8 rpg in 28 games for the CBA's Fargo-Moorhead Beez in 2001-02...Tallied 9.0 ppg and 2.7 rpg in 23 games for the Stampede in 2000-01...Averaged 15.1 ppg and 4.4 rpg in four years at Nevada-Reno.

COURTNEY JAMES – F, 6-8, 265, Dakota Wizards (Minnesota-'97): Second All-Star selection (2001)...Currently ranks 12th in CBA in rebounding (7.3 rpg) and is averaging 11.6 ppg...As the only Wizard to appear in every game last season he posted 13.3 ppg (19th in league) and a team high 9.4 rpg (5th in league)...Averaged team highs in scoring (15.9 ppg, 14th in league) and rebounding (9.3 rpg, 6th in league) for the Gary Steelheads in 2000-01...In 53 games for the CBA's Fort Wayne Fury in 1998-99 he posted 7.8 ppg and 6.3 rpg...Averaged 7.9 ppg and 7.0 rpg in 65 games as a member of 1997 Minnesota Final Four team.

ANDY PANKO – F, 6-9, 225, Dakota Wizards (Lebanon Valley '99): First All-Star selection...Currently ranks 6th in CBA in scoring (21.0 ppg) and 9th in rebounding (9.1 rpg)...Earned two National Conference Player of the Week awards posting 23.4 ppg and 10.2 rpg (11/15-11/23), and 19.3 ppg and 9.7 rpg (12/8-12/14)...Tallied a personal season high in scoring (33 points) on Dec. 31 versus the Yakima Sun Kings...Pulled down a personal season high in rebounds (18) on Dec. 20 versus the Grand Rapids Hoops...In 12 games for the Wizards in 2001-02 he posted 12.2 ppg and 5.5 rpg...During the 2002 playoffs Panko tallied 17.3 ppg and 5.0 rpg...Played one game with the Atlanta Hawks in 2000-01...Selected in the 7th round (60th overall) of the 1999 CBA Draft by the Rockford Lightning...Finished college career as Lebanon Valley's all-time leading scorer posting 26.6 ppg as a senior, 25.5 ppg as a junior, and 25.1 ppg as a sophomore.

VERSILE SHAW – F, 6-7, 220, Sioux Falls Skyforce (North Carolina-Charlotte '98): First All-Star selection...Currently ranks 7th in the CBA in rebounding (9.3 rpg) and 29nd in scoring (12.5 ppg)...In 50 games for the Rockford Lightning in 2001-02 he averaged 6.1 ppg...During the 2002 Playoffs he averaged 18.4 ppg and 7.8 rpg for Rockford...Averaged 5.3 ppg and 3.8 rpg as a senior at UNC-Charlotte.

PAUL SHIRLEY – C, 6-10, 230, Yakima Sun Kings (Iowa State '01): First All-Star selection...Currently ranks 20th in CBA in scoring (14.7 ppg), 14th in rebounding (6.8 rpg), and 3rd in blocks (1.7 bpg)...Participated in 2002 and 2001 Rocky Mountain Review Summer League with the Cleveland Cavaliers...Played 2001-02 season in Greece...Averaged 10.0 ppg and 6.9 rpg as a senior, and 8.1 ppg and 4.5 rpg as a junior at Iowa State.

MILES SIMON – G, 6-4, 205, Dakota Wizards (Arizona, '98): Second All-Star selection (2002)...Currently ranks 7th in CBA in assists (5.6 apg), 22nd in scoring (14.6 ppg), and 3rd in free throw percentage (82-92, .891)... In 2001-02 became the first person ever to win three annual CBA awards, picking up Most Valuable Player, Newcomer of the Year, and Playoff MVP honors... Named to the All League First Team... Garnered four Player of the Week awards...Led the Wizards with 19.5 ppg and 6.5 apg in the playoffs...Led the CBA in free throw percentage (190-207, .918) and three-point field goal percentage (63-136, ..463)...Ranked second in scoring (23 ppg) and eighth in field goal percentage (310-602, .515)...On Feb. 5, 2002 he set a CBA record with his 60th consecutive free throw, previously set in 1984 by Robert Smith of the Toronto Tornados with 56...Spent previous 3 seasons overseas in Europe...Appeared in 5 games with the Orlando Magic in 1998-99...Selected in the 3rd round of the 1998 CBA Draft (23rd overall) by the Connecticut Pride and the 2nd round (42nd pick) of the 1998 NBA Draft by the Magic...Scored 30 points in the 1997 NCAA Championship game versus Kentucky on his way to Final Four MVP honors...Averaged 18.4 ppg and 4.2 apg and named First-Team All-American as a senior at Arizona.

FRED VINSON – G, 6-4, 190, Yakima Sun Kings (Georgia Tech '94): First All-Star selection...Currently ranks 8th in scoring (19.4 ppg) and 1st in 3 point field goal percentage (54-98, .551)...Earned National Conference Player of the Week honors (12/15-12/23) after posting 23.7 ppg on 24-42 (.571) shooting from the field and 15-26 (.577) from the arc...Tallied personal season highs of 32 points twice, versus the Idaho Stampede on Dec. 21 and the Dakota Wizards on Dec. 31...Participated in the 2001 Rocky Mountain Review Summer League with the Phoenix Suns...Played 8 games for the Seattle Supersonics in 1999-2000...Participated in the 2000 Los Angeles Pro-Am Summer League with the Los Angeles Clippers and the 2000 Rocky Mountain Revue with the Toronto Raptors...Played several seasons overseas throughout professional career in Israel, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, and Poland...Scored 49 points in 5 games for the CBA's Fort Wayne Fury in 1995-96...Played in 5 games for the Atlanta Hawks in 1994-95...Played 20 games for the CBA's Mexico Aztecas in 1994-95...Selected in the 4th round (59th overall) of the 1994 CBA Draft by Mexico...In 29 games as a senior at Georgia Tech he led the team in three point field goals made (72) and three-point field goal percentage (72-181, .398)...Averaged 11.9 ppg and 3.9 rpg as a senior.

TYSON WHEELER – G, 5-10, 170, Yakima Sun Kings (Rhode Island '98): First All-Star selection... Currently ranks 15th in the CBA in scoring (16.4 ppg), 2nd in assists (7.7 apg) and 5th in 3 point field goal percentage (59-134, .440)...Scored a personal CBA season high 46 points on 17-18 (.945) shooting from the field and 10-11 (.909) shooting from the foul line, on Nov. 19 versus the Rockford Lightning...Spent 2001-02 campaign in Israel...Participated in 2001 Southern California Summer Pro League with the Los Angeles Clippers and 2001 Rocky Mountain Review Summer League with the Cleveland Cavaliers...Played in the Dominican Republic in 2001...In 47 games for the CBA's Quad City Thunder in 1999-00, he posted 9.4 ppg and 5.9 apg (2nd in league)...Scored 4 points in 1 game for the Denver Nuggets in 1998-99...Selected in the 1st round (3rd overall) of the 1998 CBA Draft by Quad City and the 2nd round (47th overall) of the 1998 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors...Posted 16.4 ppg as a junior and 16.6 ppg as a sophomore at Rhode Island.

Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from January 7, 2003

• CBA Transactions - CBA 1
• CBA Weekly - CBA 1
• CBA Unveils National All-Stars - CBA 1

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