Noise sign their own version of 'Twin Towers'
November 7, 2006 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Knoxville Noise News Release
The Knoxville Noise has added to their roster in a BIG way with the signing of two 6'9 power forwards for the upcoming season. James "Boo" Jackson from Eastern Michigan University and Mike Harper from Florida A&M are the most recent additions to the 2006-2007 roster. The duo will certainly give the Noise a formidable inside presence, and will make opposing teams think twice about driving into the lane this season.
Jackson graduated from Eastern Michigan in 2005, where he finished off a solid career for the Eagles. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Jackson became known as a three-way threat at EMU because of his scoring and rebounding abilities and also because of his formidable defensive presence in the paint. In a game against Toledo in 2004, Jackson recorded 13 points and a then career-high 17 rebounds in an Eagles comeback victory. Jackson finished 5th all-time in career rebounds at EMU and in a 2005 game against Western Michigan he pulled down 23 rebounds, eclipsing his previous career high.
After his collegiate playing career was over, Jackson played with the Los Angeles Clippers in their NBA summer camp during the summer of 2005. That fall, Jackson played professionally in Amsterdam, Norway. In the spring of 2006, he signed on to play with the Holland Blast of the IBL. While with the Blast, Jackson averaged 22 points and 14 rebounds per game and was selected to play in the IBL All-Star game. During one game with the Blast, Jackson scored 38 points and pulled down 22 rebounds. After the season, he was recruited heavily by several other ABA and NBDL teams, but chose to play with the Noise in large part to Coach Oliver and his "reputation as a player developer" and because "he has built a good relationship with owner Gavin Raiteri."
Mike Harper originally signed with UNC-Asheville out of high school, but after playing with the Bulldogs from 2000-2002, he transferred to Florida A&M, where he teamed up with current teammate Terrence Woods. Harper helped lead Florida A&M to the 2004 NCAA Tournament, where they played toe-to-toe with top seed Kentucky for 30 minutes before eventually falling 96-76 in a game that was much closer than the score indicated. After his playing days with the Rattlers, Harper played with an American tour team in China in the summer of 2005. The next year he played with the Eugene Chargers of the IBL. While playing with the Chargers, Harper teamed up with point guard Grayson Boucher, better known as "The Professor" from the And1 Streetball tour. Harper left the Chargers for a bigger contract with Ensenada in the LNBP of Mexico. Harper eventually left the team after several months during August 2006 because of a management and coaching change and so he could train and work out with the Knoxville Noise.
Noise Head Coach Gerald Oliver thinks the towers give his team "a great advantage over opponents with his double trouble on the inside. They both are long and can run from baseline to baseline."
Boo Jackson and Mike Harper will make their debut along with the rest of the Knoxville Noise for the first time on November the 9th against the Tennessee Mudfrogs in Chattanooga, and their first home game is Saturday November 11th. 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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American Basketball Association Stories from November 7, 2006
- Coming week for Arkansas RiverCatz - Arkansas Rivercatz
- Noise sign pair of swing players to solidify team - Knoxville Noise
- Ballers win opening game - Twin City Ballers
- Mississippi Miracles Victorious in Opening Game - Mississippi Miracles
- ABA's King County Royals sign first four players - King County Royals
- Creditors Interchange buys out all Silverbacks tickets in salute to Mayor Brown - Buffalo Silverbacks
- Coming week for Arkansas Aeros - Arkansas Aeros
- Ballers announce team roster - Twin City Ballers
- Nighthawks victorious in season opener - Maryland NightHawks
- Noise sign their own version of 'Twin Towers' - Knoxville Noise
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