GNAC Player of the Year Poole Joins Bellingham Slam
Published on March 31, 2011 under International Basketball League (IBL)
Bellingham Slam News Release
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The Bellingham Slam has announced today that former Saint Martins standout center Blake Poole has joined the team for its 2011 International Basketball League season.
Despite standing just 6'5", Poole finished his collegiate career in February as one of the region's top post players, finishing fourth in scoring and first in rebounding as a senior in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, with averages of 19.3 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. He was named the 2010-11 GNAC Player of the Year and also an NCAA Division-II All-American.
Poole's rebounding average of 11.6 during the 2010-11 campaign ranked him third in the entire NCAA Division-II, just 0.2 boards off the mark for the nation's top rebounder.
In addition to his team-leading scoring and rebounding numbers, Poole finished first on the Saints in field goal shooting (54.7 percent), steals (48), and blocks (20). One of his best outings of the 2010-11 season came against Western Washington on January 6, when he posted a double-double of 32 points and 17 rebounds.
As a junior, Poole led the GNAC in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 21.0 points and 12.2 rebounds per contest. Poole ran away with the conference rebounding title that season, leading the second-best player in that category by more than three boards per game.
In high school, Poole was a standout at Sheldon High School in Eugene, Ore., where he led the Fighting Irish to third place in the 2007 Oregon 6A state tournament as a senior.
The addition of Poole continues a trend that has seen a player from Saint Martin's suit up for the Slam each season since 2005. Former Saints standout guards Brandon Hartley and Jake Linton have also previously competed for Bellingham.
Poole will be in uniform for the Slam in their 2011 season opener on Friday, April 15 against the West Coast Hotshots. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Whatcom Pavilion.
International Basketball League Stories from March 31, 2011
- Legends Sign Three More - Albany Legends
- GNAC Player of the Year Poole Joins Bellingham Slam - Bellingham Slam
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