Huntsville Acquires Staples and Nwankwo
February 21, 2003 - NBA G League (G League) News Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. (February 21, 2003) - The Huntsville Flight of the National Basketball Development League has acquired guard Curtis Staples and center Ike Nwankwo, according to an announcement today by NBDL Executive Director Karl Hicks and Flight Head Coach Ralph Lewis. Huntsville also released center Giannis Giannoulis.
Staples fills the roster spot vacated when guard Brandon Williams signed a 10-day contract with the Atlanta Hawks today. The 6-foot-3, 198-pound University of Virginia ('98) product will join the team in time to play Saturday at Roanoke. He will wear jersey number 13.
Staples left Virginia as the all-time NCAA leader in three point field goals made with 413. He averaged 18.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game as a Cavalier senior. He won the three-point shooting contest held in conjunction with the 1998 NCAA Final Four, making 18 consecutive three-pointers at one point to defeat Notre Dame's Pat McGarrity in the final round.
He signed with the Chicago Bulls in February of 1999 and has also played internationally, as well as in the ABA. Staples last stop was with Scafati in Italy where he averaged 15.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 7.0 assists over 20 games in 2002.
Nwankwo, 6-11 and 210 pounds, will join the team Sunday and will be in uniform when the Flight travels to Columbus on Tuesday. After playing three collegiate seasons at UCLA, Nwankwo finished his career at Long Beach State ('97). He has extensive international professional experience and was a member of the Nigerian National Team from 1998-2001. His last playing experience was in Saudi Arabia.
Giannoulis was signed to play with the Flight on Feb. 10 and appeared in two games (no starts). He averaged 3.5 minutes, but failed to scored and grabbed just one rebound.
NBA G League Stories from February 21, 2003
- Lowgators Find Their Groove, Top Greenville - Charleston Lowgators
- Revelers and Dazzle Cap Busy Day - G League
- Huntsville Acquires Staples and Nwankwo - G League
- Benjamin Returns to North Charleston - G League
- Hawks Call up Flight's Williams - G League
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