Talons to have strong Native American representation
September 13, 2005 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Gallup Outlaws News Release
Gallup, NM. Following a rigorous six-hour session, the final cuts were made in the selection of the first professional athletic team to represent Gallup, New Mexico. Head Coach Clayton Shields and Asst Coach Thomas Crum whittled the group of 20 down to the final 16 who will represent the Gallup Talons in the American Basketball Association in the 2005-2006 basketball season. "I'm so happy with the talent we put together to represent Gallup," said Shields, a former standout for the University of New Mexico Lobos.
Lorris Upshaw came to the tryout camp with a one-way train ticket, not out of arrogance but because of finances. "I couldn't afford a roundtrip ticket and just prayed and had a lot of people praying for me back home," said Upshaw. Adding to Upshaw's journey to Gallup was the death of a passenger on the train which delayed his arrival for nearly another day. After seeing the 6'7" 264-lb power forward clear players out of the paint, and slam-dunk after dunk with authority, Shields had little difficulty in answering Upshaw's prayers. "I'm so glad to be here; this is a step up in my life," said the 22-year old Upshaw who leaves behind a wife and two children in Detroit to fulfill his hoop dream in Gallup.
It was the intention of the team owner Joe Kolb to have strong representation of Native American players on the Talons and along with Shields and Crum, was not disappointed in the selection of talent. Following the signing of local favorite Matt Vail (Navajo), signbing with the Talons was Upshaw (who has Blackfoot blood), Warlance Foster (Lakota/Navajo), Ganado AZ; Reggie Jackson (Navajo), Bloomfield NM; Rodney Thompson (Navajo), Ganado AZ; Dwayne Anderson (Navajo), Window Rock AZ; Mike Calavaza (Zuni), Zuni NM; and Corey Ladson (Crow), Crow Agency, MT. "I am confident these players will distingush themselves in the ABA and show people the talent pool of players on and around America's Indiana reservations," said Kolb.
For more information, email Joe Kolb at herald01@cia-g.com or visit www.abalive.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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