Noise finalize roster
November 11, 2006 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Knoxville Noise News Release
The Knoxville Noise has put the finishing touches on their roster for the 2006-2007 season with the addition of two versatile big men as well as two local stars. Kevin McDonald, Bakary Konte, Jemere Hendrix, and Bassamba Sao finalize a talented roster that will create problems for opposing teams at all spots on the floor.
Kevin McDonald is a versatile 6'8 point guard from Kennesaw State who is able to play anywhere from point guard to power forward when asked. As a member of the 2004 Kennesaw State team, he played significant minutes while helping lead his team to the Division II Championship. After college, McDonald played with the Southern Crescent Lighting of the WBA in the summer of 2005. The next summer, Kevin traveled to Mexico to play in the LNBP. Coach Oliver has this to say about McDonald: "Kevin is long and athletic, very active and a tenacious defender. He gives an option to play a big lineup with him at the point guard position."
Bakary Konte comes to the Noise by way of Bamako, Mali. Bakary, a 6'9 200 pound swingman capable of playing shooting guard, small forward, or power forward, made his way to the United States after a stellar junior career overseas. He started out playing college ball at Cincinnati State Community College. During the 1999-2000 season, Bakary averaged 13 points and 6 rebounds a game and earned All-Conference honors as a freshman. The next season he led Cincinnati State to the conference championship and was named MVP of the tournament while averaging 18 points, 8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game for the season, earning himself All-American honors. That year, Bakary was recruited by Michigan State, Memphis, Louisville and Cincinnati, but because of his late-transfer status had to sit out two years before being eligible to play. He eventually landed at Bowie State University where he was a two-year starter, and for his play during the 2004-2005 season he was named Bowie State's Most Improved Player. In addition, Bakary has a brother, Makan, who played for George Mason University, including last year's team that reached the Final Four. Coach Oliver on Bakary: "Barry shoots the ball with incredible accuracy for a man his size. He can play both outside and inside and hurt you at either spot."
Jemere Hendrix is a name that local basketball fans are familiar with. A 6'8 forward from Covington, Georgia, Jemere has played college basketball in two of the country's premier conferences, the ACC and SEC. He began his college career with the Clemson Tigers after a hard-fought recruiting battle with Notre Dame, Xavier, Boston College, Georgia and Georgia Tech, and immediately made an impact with the Tigers. After playing a season with the Tigers, Hendrix transferred to Tennessee, where he played two seasons for the Volunteers, quickly becoming known as a defensive stopper and a force on the offensive glass. While considered a work in progress, Coach Oliver believes that Jemere is not far from becoming a dominant player for the Noise because of his size and his ability to pull up and shoot from the outside: "Jemere is very talented and just needs some direction for him to develop in to a good basketball player."
Bassamba Sao is another local addition to the Noise roster. Bassamba, like Bakary, is of African descent and played college ball here in the states at local Knoxville College from 2001-2005. A 6'6, 250 pound post player, Bassamba is an already solid player who just needs to keep sharpening his skills to become an immediate impact player in the near future. Coach Oliver refers to Bassamba as BOB, and has this to say about his big man: "I love BOB! He is like a tree trunk down on the box, you won't move him. He will do whatever is asked of him."
Come out and see the Knoxville Noise in action as they take the court for their home opener on Saturday, November 11th against the Tennessee Mud Frogs. For more information visit the Noise website at www.knoxvillenoise.com.
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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