Jam Sign Rick Anderson, Dial to Orlando Magic
November 18, 2003 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Maywood Laguneros News Release
LONG BEACH, CA â The American Basketball Association (ABA) Long Beach Jam franchise announced today the signing of 6-foot-8 guard/forward, Rick Anderson. Anderson, out of Long Beach Poly High School, joined the team at training camp last night and will practice with the team again today at 2 p.m. at the Lakewood YMCA. The Jam also announced today that guard Derrick Dial was called up to the NBA by the Orlando Magic. Dial follows Matt Carroll (Portland Trailblazers) as the second Jam player to be called up to the NBA this season.
Anderson, 24, joins the Jam following a tour with the EA Sports All-Stars, a team that travels around the country playing exhibition games against top NCAA Division I Men's Basketball teams. Anderson played at the University of Arizona for four straight seasons (1999-2003). As a junior (2001-02), he averaged 12.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg and 1.6 apg. During his senior year (2002-03), he averaged 10.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 1.5 apg. Following his career with the Wildcats, Anderson was invited to the 2003 Portsmouth Pre-NBA Draft Invitational Tournament. He then joined the Los Angeles Clippers at the Southern California Summer Pro League in July before being drafted second overall in the first round of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) Draft by the Yakima Sun Kings. Anderson comes home to Long Beach, where his father, Gary Anderson, is the head coach of the Long Beach City College Men's Basketball team.
"Rick Anderson is a versatile player that has a legitimate shot at becoming an NBA player," said Jam President Steve Chase. "Long Beach gets to see one of its own homegrown talents perform back in the town where his basketball career started. This is an exciting day for our club and our community."
The Jam not only became the first team in the ABA this season to lose a player to the NBA when Matt Carroll left for the Portland Trailblazers, they also became the first ABA team this season to lose two players when Derrick Dial resigned with the Orlando Magic over the weekend. Dial, a former San Antonio Spur, Toronto Raptor and New Jersey Net, was released by Orlando in October before signing with the Jam last week.
"We knew Derrick (Dial) was right on the bubble to head back to the NBA," said Jam President Steve Chase. "It is really a nice compliment to our organization to know that we are signing players who are sought after by the top basketball league in the world. We are committed to bringing that level of talent here to Long Beach and will continue to do so."
The Jam hit the road against The Gallos de Pelea of Juarez, Mexico for the season tip off on Thursday, Nov. 20. The home opener against the Fresno HeatWave tips off Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m. at the Long Beach State Pyramid. The team will feature the up-tempo, high-scoring style of former Los Angeles Lakers World Champion, former Loyola Marymount Lion and current Jam Head Coach Paul Westhead.
Individual game tickets are on sale now and available for purchase by visiting the Long Beach State Pyramid box office, or by phone at 562-985-4949 and 888-4-JAM-TIX. Prices range from $5 for children, senior citizens and military, to $10-15 for reserved seating.
For more information about the Long Beach Jam, call 562-799-8100.
Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.
American Basketball Association Stories from November 18, 2003
- Jam Sign Rick Anderson, Dial to Orlando Magic - Maywood Laguneros
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