Jason Capel to Play for Patriots
Published on October 10, 2002 under NBA G League (G League)
Fayetteville Patriots News Release
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C., October 10, 2002 â Professional basketball in Fayetteville is now very Capel-able of keeping up with the rest of the National Basketball Development League thanks to the arrival of former UNC star forward Jason Capel. In an arena named after his grandfather â at the university his father is a 1977 graduate of â Jason Capel announced today he would play for the Fayetteville Patriots this season. Capel's father, Jeff, is the head coach of the Patriots.
Capel signed an NBDL contract this week and is the third of four players that will be allocated to the Patriots before training camp begins on Nov. 3. Fellow rookies Kenyatta Brown out of East Carolina and Jamal Young out of Johnson C. Smith (Charlotte) were announced as allocated players on Sept. 24. Jeff Capel will introduce Jason to Patriots fans at the Oct. 15 NBA exhibition game featuring the Washington Wizards and the Denver Nuggets.
Capel will not be the only Tar Heel in attendance, however. UNC coach Matt Doherty and his coaching staff will be there along with Tar Heel legends Phil Ford and Walter Davis. Michael Jordan, Jerry Stackhouse and Brendan Haywood are Washington Wizards.
Capel, who lived in Fayetteville until he was a seventh grader, just completed an outstanding career at North Carolina. During his stint with the Tar Heels, he won a share of the ACC regular-season title his junior season and reached the Final Four as a sophomore.
"I'm excited about getting started. I'm excited about playing in Fayetteville and playing for my dad,'' said Capel. "I just want to come here and help the team win, help my dad and fulfill my dreams at the same time. I want to get to the next level."
The Orlando Magic invited Capel to play on its NBA summer league team last summer after Capel led the Tar Heels in scoring (15.6 points per game), rebounding (8.6 rebounds per game) and free throw shooting as senior last season. He became the first UNC player since Jerry Stackhouse in 1994-95 to lead the Tar Heels in those three categories.
Capel was a third-team All-ACC for the second straight season and was the team's top rebounder for the second consecutive season as a senior. "I'm excited to have a player of his ability on our team,'' Patriots coach Capel said. "He is a versatile player with a great understanding of the game. By now, he should have an understanding of what I like to do.
"I've already told him to expect no favors. He's one of 10 players just like everybody else. So there should be no problems."
Capel's arrival in Fayetteville will continue the family's strong presence in the community. Capel's grandfather, Felton J. Capel Sr., is a respected-business man in Southern Pines community. Capel Sr., a long-time supporter of Fayetteville State University, helped the school build its impressive Health Physical Education and Recreation Complex. The basketball arena, which is named after Capel Sr., is one of the best Division II basketball facilities in the country.
Capel's brother Jeff Capel III, played high school basketball at South View and won a state 4-A basketball title in 1993. Capel III, played four years at Duke (1993-1997). In March, the 27-year-old Capel was named the head basketball coach at Virginia Commonwealth University, becoming the youngest head basketball coach in Division I.
Coach Jeff Capel is entering his second season as Patriots' head coach. He coached at his alma mater Fayetteville State from 1989-1992. He went 42-17 his final two seasons as the Broncos coach. Jason's mother, is a schoolteacher in Cumberland County. The Patriots have announced the signing of four returning players â Terrell McIntyre, Greg Stempin, Antwain Smith and Darrell Johns. McIntyre is in the New Orleans Hornets training camp.
Twenty-five players will be invited to the Patriots training camp. Ten players will make the Opening Night roster against the Asheville Altitude on Nov. 15. Single-game tickets to that game will go on sale Oct. 15. Season-ticket plans start at $56. Single-game price range from $6-$21.
In UNC history, Capel is sixth all-time in 3-point field goals made (164), ninth all-time in 3-point field goal percentage (.375) and eighth all-time in free shooting percentage (.823).
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