Jam Roster Sees Major Turnover
December 19, 2009 - NBA G League (G League)
Bakersfield Jam News Release
(Bakersfield, CA) - The last 72 hours have seen a significant reorganization of the Bakersfield Jam roster, with Jared Newson, Brian Butch and James "Boo" Jackson replacing Anthony Goods, Tyrelle Blair and Lance Hurdle.
Butch averaged 12.4 pts and 6.6 rebounds per game while shooting 45.6% from the field for the 2007-08 Big Ten Champion Wisconsin Badgers. Since college, he has played for a number of teams overseas, including Villa de Los Barrios in Spain, Jiangsu Nangang Dragons Nanjing of the Chinese CBA, Giants Noerdlingen of Germany's Bundesliga, and Ilysiakos Athens in the Greek A1 league.
"Brian provides us with some much needed size in our front court," said Jam Head Coach Will Voigt. "We feel that he is a very promising young player who can immediately help our team."
Jackson began the season with the L.A. D-Fenders, where he averaged 11.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in 23.1 minutes per game. In his first effort for the Jam, Jackson contributed 21 points and a team-high 12 rebounds in 40 minutes on Friday night.
"We have seen James quite a bit this season with LA, and we were impressed with his toughness, defense and rebounding," Voigt said. "We will need him to bring those same qualities to Bakersfield."
Newson suffered a left wrist sprain during the Jam's December 11 game at Austin. In six games for the Jam (five starts) he led the team in scoring with 17.5 points per game, including a 34-point outburst against the Utah Flash on December 5.
"We are thrilled to have Jared back from his injury so soon," said Coach Voigt. "We were worried he might have been out a much longer period of time, and we clearly miss his presence when he's not on the floor."
Goods had been averaging 3.0 points and 2.1 rebounds in nine games with the Jam, but saw his minutes drop significantly over the last week before his release. Blair joined the team two games into the season and averaged 4.7 points and 6.9 rebounds in the seven games he played.
Hurdle - who scored 7.4 points, dished 2.1 assists and grabbed 1.2 steals per game in his 8 contests - was released due to injury after spraining his right ankle during a Thursday evening practice.
• Discuss this story on the NBA G League message board...
NBA G League Stories from December 19, 2009
- Vipers Drop Second Straight In Ot Loss To Tulsa - Rio Grande Valley Vipers
- Red Claws Winning Streak Snapped at 7 by Mad Ants - Maine Celtics
- Jam Roster Sees Major Turnover - Bakersfield Jam
- NBA D-League Daily Developments - G League
- Jam Fall to Stampede - Bakersfield Jam
- 66ers Take The Bite Out Of The Vipers - Tulsa 66ers
- Vipers' Win Streak Comes To An End In Tulsa - Rio Grande Valley Vipers
- T-Birds Lose to Toros 106 - 99 - New Mexico Thunderbirds
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
