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Nighthawks officially sign 7'9" Sun Ming Ming

January 31, 2007 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Maryland NightHawks News Release


Rockville, MD - It's Official. After weeks of speculation, the Maryland Nighthawks held a much anticipated press conference today at Mei Wah Restaurant in Chevy Chase, Maryland to announce the signing of 7'9" Sun Ming Ming.

Tom Doyle, President of the ABA and Co-owner of the Maryland Nighthawks said "Sun's skills are tremendous. There hasn't been a player this big at this young of an age that has the skills that he has at this point. He sees the floor, his skills are tremendous, and it's really a pleasure to have him here."

Ming Ming, who stands 7-foot-9, is the tallest player ever to play professional basketball and will immediately bolster the Nighthawks front court. Doyle said of the 22 year-old, "We've been a little smaller this year than in years past and having Ming come here obviously will give us a presence in the middle."

Newly hired head coach Will Rankin. Rankin, who previously coached in the United States Basketball League, is excited to start working with Sun. "I've seen great players. I've coached several big men. This is certainly the tallest guy I've ever coached. His skills and adaptation is second to none. He picks up stuff very rapidly. His IQ to the game is abnormally high."

When Rankin was asked if Sun would be starting, he animatedly said, "Most definitely."

Also in attendance was Ming Ming's new teammate Randy "White Chocolate Gill." The two have been working out since Sun's arrival in Maryland last week, and Gill said of his new big man, "I think he has great potential to be very great in the game of basketball. I think he can definitely play at the NBA level. He improves everyday. Every time I show him something he gets right to it, he works very hard."

Gill, who refers to Ming Ming as "Big Homie" added "He's a great passer and has the ability to see the floor. I think he's just going to keep growing and continue to get better."

Ming Ming, who will wear jersey number 79, is excited to start playing for the Nighthawks. When asked what his goal is, Ming Ming said "I want to play in the NBA."

And even though Doyle would like to see Ming Ming finish the season in a Nighthawks uniform, Doyle agrees with Sun and knows he has the talent to play in the NBA.

"Obviously we'd like to keep him here the entire season, but if someone upstairs in the NBA wants a look at him, we're not standing in the way of any of our players. Last season Randy had a good opportunity to go to Venezuela and he did. We do not stand in the way of any of our players and if Ming or Randy or any of our other players are called up we'll take them there in a car or a plane or whatever it takes."

Ming Ming's will be in uniform for the Nighthawks, this Saturday, when the Nighthawks host the Strong Island Sound at 7:05 pm.

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.

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