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The Bighorns Select Five Players in the 2015 NBA D-League Draft

October 31, 2015 - NBA G League (G League)
Reno Bighorns News Release


RENO, NV ---- The Reno Bighorns acquired five players in the NBA Development League Draft on Saturday afternoon. Reno drafted five players and completed a trade for the Cliff Hammonds, a standout during the 2014-15 NBA preseason.

With the Bighorns first pick (29 overall) in the NBA D-League Draft, the Bighorns selected Chad Toppert, a 6'6" forward who played collegiately at the University of Mexico where he averaged 10.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game his senior year. After going undrafted in the 2009 NBA Draft, Toppert joined the New Mexico Thunderbirds (former D-League team) where he shot 48.1% from the three-point range and averaged 11.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. Most recently, Toppert played for the Artland Dragons in Germany.

The Bighorns selected Mark Tyndale with the 42 overall pick. Tyndale went undrafted during the 2008 NBA Draft and went on the play in the NBA D-League after being claimed by the Iowa Energy from the player pool. Tyndale most recently joined the Maine Red Claws (2012-13) where he averaged 9.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

The Bighorns then completed a trade with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers to select the Vipers original 12 overall draft pick, Cliff Hammonds. The Bighorns exchanged for returning player rights to Bighorns former forward Jordan Hamilton, the Bighorns own original 2016 NBA D-League Draft pick and the draft rights to Michael Craig, who the Bighorns selected in the 99 overall pick.

Hammonds most recently joined the Alba Berlin out of Germany during the 2014-15 preseason, where they took on the San Antonio Spurs. During the matchup against the Spurs, Hammonds averaged 15 points, four rebounds and four assists.

In the following rounds, the Bighorns selected Jordan Richard out of Cal State Los Angeles and Dondray Walker out of Newberry College (South Carolina).

"We were able to secure a lot of players we were targeting during the draft process," Said Bighorns head coach Dave Arseneault. "We have a nice mix of guys with d-league and overseas experience."

The Bighorns makes their 2015-16 home debut versus the L.A. D-Fenders on Friday, Nov. 13 at the Reno Events Center.

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