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Rainmen Signs Elite Back Court with NBA Experience

September 30, 2013 - National Basketball League of Canada (NBL Canada)
Halifax Rainmen News Release


The Halifax Rainmen are excited to announce two new signings, pending FIBA clearance, who will participate in the teams October training camp. Cheyne Gadson, a 6'4 combo guard out of Oklahoma State University, and JuJuan Cooley, a 5'10 point guard out of Indiana Tech University. The Rainmen will look for Gadson and Cooley to provide scoring, playmaking and veteran presence to the backcourt, as each have a wealth of professional experience, both overseas and in the NBA D-League

Cheyne Gadson, a 6'4 combo guard out of Oklahoma State, played with Nogales in Mexico last season averaging 16.9 points on 53% shooting, along with 5.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and a steal per game. Gadson has been as close to making the NBA as you can come multiple times, as he participated in NBA training camps with the Golden States Warriors in 2010, Dallas Mavericks in 2008 (where he played in 5 pre-season games) and Washington Wizards in 2004, and also played in multiple NBA Summer Leagues with the Chicago Bulls in 2008, Denver Nuggets in 2006 and New York Knicks in 2005. Gadson is also one of the most accomplished players in the history of the NBA D-League, playing in 156 games and averaging 11.9 points, 4.1 steals, 2.7 rebounds and 0.8 steals. Most recently he played with the D-League's Idaho Stampede in 2011-12, averaging 15.8 points including 46% shooting from 3 and 84% from the FT line, along with 5.1 assists and 2.8 rebounds over 9 games. Gadson was named All D-League Honorable mention and to the D-League Ambassadors Team in 2006-07 when he averaged 15.7 points, 4.8 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 0.9 steals over 48 games combined with the Tulsa 66ers and Austin Toros. Gadson was also a CBA All-Star and Champion in 2006, and has also played professionally in Argentina, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, England, Italy, Latvia, Israel and finally Puerto Rico, where he led his team to a Championship in 2012. Gadson played two seasons (2001-03) at Oklahoma State where he averaged 6.1 points, 2.8 assists and 2.5 rebounds over 62 games. Gadson was also named to 2002-03 Big 12 All-Reserve Team after averaging 5.6 points, 3.1assists and 2.2 rebounds for a 23-9 team that lost in the 2nd round of the 2003 NCAA Tournament to eventual champion Syracuse.

Rainmen head coach Chris Terrell expressed his excitement over Gadson's signing in Halifax:

"Sugar Cheyne is a proven high level pro at either guard spot. He has come so close to the NBA many times, he deserves to be there, and I am going to try to do everything possible to help him take that final step this season. The guy has been a top player in the NBA D-League 5x, numerous NBA training camps, preseasons, and Summer Leagues. He is going to be incredible for us this season and I'm anxious to work with him and expect GREAT things. I coached in Nogales 3 years ago, and when Aleks Martinez, a good friend of mine, first told me about Cheyne, I listened. He said Cheyne was a great player, so I was anxious to go and see him and what I found was a TERRIFIC player. Gadson also shares a history with current Rainmen guard Brock Gillespie, as they formed a dynamic starting backcourt with the NBA D-League's Austin Toros. We expect that chemistry to really help us hit the ground running this season in Halifax!"

JuJuan Cooley is a 5'10 point guard out of Indiana Tech University, where he was named to the NAIA 1st Team All-American in 2005. He has had an extremely successful career in Romania, playing with Targu Mures from 2006-12, finishing 1st or 2nd in the league in both Assists and Steals in every season he played in Europe. He played in 118 games with Targu Mures in Romania from 2008-12 averaging 13.9 points, 7.1 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game, finishing 1st or 2nd overall in both Assists and Steals every season he played in Europe. He was named to Romania's All-Star Game in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012, winning All-Star MVP in 2009. Was named to All-Romanian League 1st Team in 2011, 2nd Team in 2009 and 2012, All-Imports 1st Team in 2009, 2011 and 2012 and All-Defensive Team in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. In 2011 was also named to All-Balkan League 2nd Team and All-Imports 1st Team.

Rainmen head coach Chris Terrell had the following comments on Cooley:

"JuJuan Cooley is the guy that makes everyone better and will help put us into another gear on both ends of the court. He is very quick, athletic, and an absolute ball hawk on defense. He has a nice touch on his jump shot and is a great playmaker, setting the table for everyone else. He will break people down and if they don't stop him, he'll go straight to the rack. But better defenses will force him to make a play for his teammates and he is very good at that. He was always one of the top guards in the league for a very good team overseas and he is a natural fit and complement to everything we're doing this season in Halifax."

RAINMEN PLAYERS SIGNED TO DATE

KAYLON RILEY C 6'9" 225LBS

TYLER RICHARDS G 6'2" 190LBS

ROBERT NORTMANN PF 6'8" 225LBS

RAVEN BARBER C 6'9" 225LBS

BROCK GILLESPIE G 6'2" 170LBS

IVAN HARRIS F 6'7" 215LBS

MICHAEL SMITH PG 6'2 185LBS

JUJUAN COOLEY PG 5'11" 185LBS

CHEYNE GADSON G 6'4" 190LBS

To reserve season tickets, please contact Rainmen Sales Office at 902.444.7246 ext 26.

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