Snohomish County Explosion Training Camp Roster Announced

February 11, 2009 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Snohomish County Explosion News Release


Training camp to feature a whole new look Explosion Team Monroe, WA. - February 11th, 2009 - Explosion General Manager Brad Sturlaugson announced today the team's roster for upcoming 2009 training camp, which runs from Feb. 20th through March 16th.

With today's roster announcement, the Explosion roster is at 17 with 4 invites coming from the open tryout in January. Only one player returns from the original team put together in 2006 and this is the tall 6-10 backup center Mike Jones. Looking at a squad of over 20 years of Pro experience trying out it seems both age and experience are on the side of the Explosion for the upcoming 2009 season. "We are looking to go much younger and play a much more up tempo game under coach Weakley these next few years," said owner Nathan Mumm. "Last year I had a chance to evaluate the team in the locker room and at practice and we were just getting too old to compete with the younger talented teams like Bellingham and Edmonton. With the average age of last year's team being 28 years old, we now have many candidates this year that are just finishing up playing college basketball."

During the Explosion training camp players will be participating in as many two-a-day practices as possible and will include open scrimmages to be held for fans and season ticket holders to attend to see how the young players and team is progressing.

After training camp is over the Explosion will conclude with a live press conference on Thursday March 19th at 3:00pm at the Keg n Que in Monroe. (on 202 South Lewis Street Monroe) This will include the announcement of the Dynamic Dance team members from Coach Kristi Bourg and Head Coach Chris Weakley will announce the players that made the 2009 Explosion starting day roster.

The Live Press Conference will give everyone a chance to talk with the coach, players, front office and will include information about Courtyard Media Foundations future plans in Monroe. This will include the first player interviews and autograph signings of the first teams poster of the season (50 posters will be on hand) after the event.

Top Prospect:

Jeffery Day (6-11, 216) From the UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON An athletic big man who saw action at both the forward and center positions last season ... Served as David Dixon's backup at center after the season-ending injury to Marlon Shelton ... A capable player both inside and outside who started twice in 2002 ... One of the top shot blockers in the Pac-10 last season.

2001-02 (Freshman) -- Played all but one game (at California, Jan. 17) and drew starting assignments at USC (Jan. 6) and Arizona State (Feb. 9) ... Ranked second on the team and ninth among Pac-10 players with 30 blocked shots (1.07 bpg) ... His 30 blocks were the second-highest single-season total ever for a Husky freshman, trailing only Todd Macculloch's 32 blocks in 1996 ... Rejected a single-game high four shots against Gonzaga (Dec. 11) ... Tallied seven points and seven rebounds with three blocks in his collegiate debut at Alaska Fairbanks (Nov. 15) ... Had season-high eight points and three assists against Oregon (Jan. 24) ... Matched his career-high with eight points at Washington State (Jan. 3).

SEATTLE PREP HIGH SCHOOL

Averaged 14.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game as a senior in 2001 ... Averaged 13 points and eight rebounds per game as a junior at Seattle Prep ... Helped lead the Panthers to the 2000 Washington state Class AAA state championship ... Seattle Prep finished the 2000 regular season with a 19-1 record ... An honorable mention prep All-America selection by Street & Smith's magazine ... Rated the No. 17 prep power forward in the West by Pac-West Hoops.

COACH ROMAR ON JEFFREY DAY

"Jeffrey has as much potential as anyone on our roster. He's really versatile. He can really shoot the basketball at 6-9. He can put it on the floor at 6-9. He is a good shot blocker. He needs to be able to play with consistent intensity and develop some strength."



International Basketball League Stories from February 11, 2009


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