Joe Crawford and Brandon Heath Highlight D-Fenders Training Camp Invitees (11/6/08)
November 6, 2008 - NBA G League (G League)
Los Angeles D-Fenders News Release
EL SEGUNDO, CA - The Los Angeles D-Fenders announced that Joe Crawford, Brandon Heath, Darren Cooper, Patrick Sanders, Johnny Dukes, Ryan Forehan-Kelly and Rashid Byrd will join the ten players selected in Friday's NBA Development League Draft for D-Fenders training camp.
Selected by the Lakers with the 58th pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Crawford, a 22 year-old native of Detroit, Michigan, played four seasons at the University of Kentucky, averaging 11.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 127 games (76 starts). In six preseason games with the Lakers, Crawford averaged 2.8 points in 7.3 minutes.
Heath, a 6-3 guard out of San Diego State spent last season playing in France for Entente Orleans 45 where he averaged 12.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 25 games. In five preseason games with the Lakers, Heath averaged 1.4 points in 8.6 minutes.
Cooper, originally drafted in the sixth round (77th pick overall) of the 2007 NBA D-League Draft, returns to the D-Fenders looking to build on a strong finish to the 2007-08 season. In 15 games for the D-Fenders, Cooper averaged 6.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 20.1 minutes.
Dukes, Forehan-Kelly and Byrd all earned a spot on the D-Fenders training camp roster after impressing the coaches at the local player tryouts in late September. Sanders joins Crawford and Heath as players allocated to Los Angeles by the NBA D-League.
D-Fenders Training Camp Invitees:
Rashid Byrd
Darren Cooper
Joe Crawford
Johnny Dukes
Ryan Forehan-Kelly
Brandon Heath
Patrick Sanders
The D-Fenders tip off their third season in the NBA D-League on Friday, November 28 at 3:30 p.m. when they host the Bakersfield Jam at STAPLES Center. Having a game ticket for a Lakers home game also gives fans the opportunity to attend the D-Fenders game that same day at STAPLES Center.
NBA G League Stories from November 6, 2008
- Mad Ants Announce Allocated and Returning Players - Indiana Mad Ants
- Idaho Stampede Announce Returning and Allocated Players - Idaho Stampede
- Joe Crawford and Brandon Heath Highlight D-Fenders Training Camp Invitees (11/6/08) - Los Angeles D-Fenders
- Toros Announce Returning and Allocated Players - Austin Spurs
- Jackson, Ingram, Hall Among Seven Set to Report to Flash Camp - Utah Flash
- 66ers Announce Allocated and Returning Players - Tulsa 66ers
- Anaheim Arsenal Awarded Three Allocation Players - Anaheim Arsenal
- SKYFORCE ANNOUNCES 2008-09 TRAINING CAMP INVITEES - Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Colorado 14ers Single Game Tickets On Sale Friday - Colorado 14ers
- Long Time NBA Coach Bob Hill to Lead NBA Development League Coaching Consultants - G League
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.
Other Recent Los Angeles D-Fenders Stories
- MVP Vander Blue Leads 2016-17 All-NBA Development League First Team
- Vander Blue Named NBA Development League MVP
- D-Fenders Comeback Falls Short in Year-Ending Loss to Vipers
- Los Angeles Lakers Recall Nwaba from D-Fenders
- D-Fenders Dodge Vipers Comeback, Stay Alive in Title Hunt
