Marcus Bradford Named IBL Player of the Week

June 20, 2013 - International Basketball League (IBL) News Release

This past week 6'4" G Marcus Bradford stood out averaging 45.5 ppg and 13.5 rpg earning him a POTW nod, the first for the Tornadoes this season. In two games June 11 versus the Reign Bradford put up 51 points to rival Jared Cunningham's 52 high for a player in the IBL so far this season, then 40 points versus the 2012 Champion Slam June 16th. As an ‘import' on the Japan Nippon Tornadoes in partnership with the bj-League, Bradford has taken over as IBL scoring leader at 34.2ppg from Cunningham and shows no signs of stopping.

IBL: From Ohio, college in Missouri, now in the Pacific Northwest, what is the difference you see in the basketball played in all of those areas? MB: I was born and raised Columbus, OH and have been here for 2.5 years now. There seems to be more opportunity out here, I am from football country. You find a different style of basketball everywhere you go there are good players and I have adapted something from everywhere I have been. In the mid-west the players are rougher and tougher, the south guys are really athletic and then towards the west coast guys are scorers and shooters. Put them all together and you get an all around player. In this league you have to score to keep up with competitors like (Jared) Cunningham and (David) Lucas! You gotta be focused and sharp on what you are trying to accomplish on each possession, and with 22 second shot clock those two seconds less makes you think quicker, move quicker and stay in shape.

IBL: You're an ‘import' playing in the US on the Japan Nippon Tornadoes what's that all about? MB: Marvena Kemp saw me play, liked my game and introduced me to Tatsumi Nishida to help the team out. I thank her for that, she does a lot in the community to help all of us try to achieve our basketball goals. The language barrier is there, as many of my teammates don't speak english so we use a lot of hand gestures with each other, basketball is a universal language. The guys are great, Japanese people are so hospitable and took us in like we are one of them. Even though they are here in the US, they look after us, really good genuine people. I thank God for being in this situation, I want to display my leadership and help people and this is a great opportunity to do so. One of my desires is to go to another country and play and this is preparing me for that. No matter how or what we go through in the games they stay positive and cheerful through thick and thin!

IBL: What are your goals and how will you use this experience to help you get there? MB: Finish the season strong as a team and player, display my skills set in front of the fans scouts and to represent the IBL anywhere I go. I want to continue to do well, play basketball at a high level and rock it till the wheels fall off! We want to try to get some more wins to help us, changing out players from Japan is a lot farther, as they have bj-League commitments and or opportunities that come up like Ban & Hara. They were so great, had to go back to Japan for their opportunity. I was just getting used to playing with Masa and develop chemistry and he has to return now as well. It is something else we have to adapt to, but its good for opportunity and shows growth for them, for all of us, experience is the best teacher. We want to compete against those good teams in the IBL and is our goal to get into the final four.

IBL: Tell us something your teammates and fans may not know about you MB: I am a part time chef, when you get really hungry and have to cook for yourself in college you learn! One of my best dishes is turkey lasagna. I will have to cook something for my teammates at our end of the season celebration!

• Discuss this story on the International Basketball League message board...

International Basketball League Stories from June 20, 2013

• Marcus Bradford Named IBL Player of the Week - IBL
• Slam Hosts Vancouver in Must-Win Game Friday - Bellingham Slam

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.