Riverdragons Place Five Players on NBA Summer League Rosters

Published on July 15, 2002 under NBA G League (G League)
Columbus Riverdragons News Release


COLUMBUS, GA., July 15, 2002 - The Columbus Riverdragons have placed an NBDL-best five players on the rosters of NBA teams participating in the summer league circuit this July, including forwards Tremaine Fowlkes (Los Angeles Clippers), Tang Hamilton (Philadelphia 76ers), Nate Johnson (Philadelphia 76ers), Sean Daugherty (Minnesota Timberwolves) and center Livan Pyfrom (Golden State Warriors).

Twenty-two players from 2001-02 National Basketball Development League rosters have thus far been named to summer league rosters for NBA teams participating in the Southern California Summer Pro League (July 7–21), Orlando Summer Pro League (July 9–13), Shaw's Pro Summer League (July 15-21) and the Rocky Mountain Review (July 19-27). The Philadelphia 76ers have the most 2001-02 NBDL players on their roster with four, and the Utah Jazz have three.

Johnson and Hamilton will debut for the 76ers when the renowned Shaw's Pro Summer League opens play Monday, July 15 at the Clark Athletic Center Gymnasium on the campus of the University of Massachusetts-Boston. Hamilton and Johnson also both participated in the 76ers mini-camp last May in Philadelphia.

With the Riverdragons last season, Johnson earned All-NBDL honorable mention at forward averaging 13.7 ppg and 4.7 rpg in 51 games. Hamilton, a former rookie with the Miami Heat, made the most of his short stint with Columbus, averaging 9.6 ppg and 4.3 rpg in nine regular season games after joining the team as a free agent on February 27.

Riverdragons power forward Sean Daugherty, representing the Timberwolves, will also participate at Shaw's. Daugherty averaged 7.4 ppg and 2.6 rpg in 11 games and finished second on the Riverdragons in three-point shooting knocking down 12-of-29 3-pointers (41.4%). Shaw's Pro Summer League is also expected to include former NBDL star Omar Cook (Boston Celtics) and the Atlanta Hawks first round selection in the 2002 NBA Draft, guard Dan Dickau.

Hamilton, Johnson and Daugherty are not alone representing Columbus in Boston. Riverdragons head coach Jeff Malone is also at Shaw's Pro Summer League scouting for talent to round-out the Riverdragons roster for next season.

"I'm proud of these guys," said Malone, speaking of Hamilton, Johnson and Daugherty. "I always thought we had a lot of talent on our team. I think this says plenty about the talent level of the Riverdragons and the NBDL that so many of our players were invited for a closer look."

On the West Coast, forward Tremaine Fowlkes (the first player in Riverdragons history to be called up to the NBA) and rookie center Livan Pyfrom are competing for NBA roster spots in the Southern California Summer Pro League at the Pyramid on the campus of Long Beach State University in Long Beach, California.

Fowlkes is suiting up for the Los Angeles Clippers - the same team he started 17 games for last season following his call-up from Columbus on February 23. The Riverdragons leading scorer for most of the team's inaugural season, Fowlkes averaged 16.7 ppg and 5.8 rpg in 42 games of NBDL action. In So. Cal. Pro Summer League play thus far, Fowlkes is averaging 17.6 ppg in three games, including a team-high 17 points in the Clippers 99-97 victory over the Phoenix Suns on July 9.

Pyfrom, a 6-foot-11 center from Creighton University, is currently playing for the Golden State Warriors in Long Beach. A late addition to the Riverdragons roster last season, Pyfrom blocked 13 shots in 17 games for Columbus. The Southern California Pro Summer League runs through July 21.

The summer league season wraps up with the Rocky Mountain Review in Salt Lake City, Utah, which runs from July 19-27. Rosters for the Rocky Mountain Review are still in the process of being set and could include the several more Riverdragons players.

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