Thunderbirds Announce Training Camp Invitees
October 31, 2010 - NBA G League (G League)
New Mexico Thunderbirds News Release
Rio Rancho, NM - The New Mexico Thunderbirds announced today that two former New Mexico Lobos, guard Tony Danridge (6-2, 225) and guard Jamaal Smith (5-9, 175) are among the first seven players to be invited to Thunderbirds training camp for the 2010-11 season.
They will be joined by two other returning players, forward Shane Edwards (6-7, 220, Arkansas Little-Rock) and guard Jason Horton (6-2, 190, Missouri) and three players invited from open tryouts, forward and former T-Bird Ramon Dyer (6-7, 225, Houston), guard Stephen McDowell (6-0, 180, Tennessee-Chattanooga) and forward Jason Miller (6-8, 215, Columbia).
The Thunderbirds will fill out their training camp roster on Monday in the NBA Development League draft that begins at 5 p.m. MT. The Thunderbirds hold the second pick in the first round of the draft.
Danridge played for the Thunderbirds last year and averaged 7.1 points per game and shot 57.5% from the floor in 41 games. During his senior season at the University of New Mexico in 2008-09 he averaged 14.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game and was named first team All-Mountain West Conference. He also won the 2009 college Slam Dunk contest.
Smith will join his former UNM teammate in the Thunderbirds training camp. He was among the 53 players at the Thunderbirds open tryout at Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho, NM. Smith played two seasons for the Lobos. During his final season, he averaged 8.8 points per game and shot 48.7 percent from three-point range.
Edwards returns to the Thunderbirds after playing for the Denver Nuggets in both training camp and the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Last season for the Thunderbirds he averaged 12.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting 62.5% from the floor in 39 games. Edwards was invited to play for the Thunderbirds last year from an open tryout.
Horton also returns to the Thunderbirds this season after being just one of two players to play all 50 games for the Team last year. He averaged 3.8 points, 4.3 assists and 2.2 rebounds last year. Horton played four seasons at the University of Missouri and finished his career ranked in the top 10 in career assists and steals.
Dyer is back for his second go around with the Thunderbirds. He last played for the team during the 2007-08 season, when he averaged 6.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while playing in all 50 games. Dyer was invited to training camp after participating in the team's tryout in New Orleans.
McDowell also was invited to training camp from the New Orleans tryout. He played in three games last season for the Bakersfield Jam. McDowell played the final two years of his college career at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. During his senior season he averaged 18.1 points per game and finished third in the nation in three pointers made with 135.
Miller finished up a four-year career at Columbia University in 2009. During his senior year, he averaged 9.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game and was named the team's co-MVP as well as second team for the All-Ivy League. Miller participated in the Thunderbirds' tryout in New Mexico and was one of just two players invited to camp from that tryout, along with Jamaal Smith.
The Thunderbirds will play their first home game of the season at the Santa Ana Star Center on Nov. 26 against the Utah Flash. Full and partial season ticket packages are currently available. For more information call 505-265-3865 or visit www.nmtbirds.com.
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NBA G League Stories from October 31, 2010
- Utah Flash Invite Nine Players to Training Camp - Utah Flash
- Thunderbirds Announce Training Camp Invitees - New Mexico Thunderbirds
- Austin Toros Announce 2010-11 Returning and Allocated Players - Austin Spurs
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