Magic Add Two Rookies to Training Camp Roster
September 9, 2019 - National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada)
Moncton Magic News Release
(Moncton, NB.) The Magic continue to add more talent to their training camp roster for the upcoming 2019-2020 NBL Canada season. Thus far familiar faces have dominated the recent player signing announcements by the team until today, when Head Coach and GM of Player Operations Joe Salerno announced the signing of a pair of rookie guards in Canadian Dinjiyl Walker and import Brandon Neel.
Walker, a native of Scarborough, Ontario was a member of the 2016 Oklahoma Sooner's team that played in the NCAA Final Four, losing to eventual National Champion the Villanova Wildcats. The 6'1" 197 lbs point guard played in the backcourt that season with the eventual 6thoverall pick in the NBA Draft Buddy Hield.
Salerno discovered Walker last month at the annual Peace Tournament pro-am held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, a tournament Walker's Toronto based team won.
"He is a competitor. A hard nose point guard who can get to the rim, and finish in traffic. There is an awful lot to like about Dinjiyl. He is a winner. He was won at virtually every level he has ever played at, and I am excited to see what he can do at the next level" commented Salerno.
For Walker, this will be his first real chance to compete at the pro level, one he said he is looking forward to.
"I want to thank the Magic for giving me this opportunity. I have heard nothing but great things about this organization and can't wait to get started there. I know there are some big shoes to fill, but I am going to try my best to bring this organization and city another Championship" stated Walker.
Neel, a 6'5" shooting guard who hails from Cincinnati, Ohio was one of the first players Salerno signed this summer after seeing him play at the KPA Summer League in Las Vegas this pas July.
"Brandon is an athletic wing who can score in a lot of different ways. I believe he will develop into a consistent three-point shooter at the pro level, and he is a tremendous rebounder for his size. He is sneaky athletic and has all the tools to become a very good pro" said Salerno.
Neel played his final two years of collegiate ball at Midwestern State located in Wichita Falls, Texas. He led the Mustangs in scoring his senior season in 2018 averaging 18.8 points per game which was good for third best in the NCAA's Division II Lonestar Conference. He also averaged 5.8 rebounds per game, which led his team and helped earn him a spot on the Lone Star Conference All 2ndteam.
"It's always been a goal of mine to play at the professional level. I want to thank the Magic for giving me the opportunity and I am excited and ready to get to work" commented Neel.
Salerno feels both Walker and Neel can bring things to the table for this year's edition of the Magic.
"We plan to have a lot of returnees back from a very good team last year" Salerno said. "The key now is to find the right pieces to plug into the equation. Guys I feel will fit in with what we have returning and fill the holes of what we may be missing. Both Dinjiyl and Brandon can really play. I look forward to seeing them both in training camp."
The Magic expect the 2019-2020 NBL Canada regular season schedule to be out in the coming weeks and will look to start training camp around the 1stof November.
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