Thunderbirds Draft Players to Help Defend Title
Published on November 3, 2006 under NBA G League (G League)
New Mexico Thunderbirds News Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., November 2, 2006 - The 2005-2006 NBA D-League Champion Albuquerque Thunderbirds selected ten solid players in Thursday's D-League Draft who will join others when training camp begins on November 7th. Returning from last year's champion squad; Tony Bland, Marcus Douthit, TJ Cummings, Joe Shipp, and Brandon Mason. Earlier today, the Thunderbirds were given the rights to Texas Tech star Ronald Ross from Hobbs, New Mexico. Greg Baker will join the training camp because of his outstanding performance at the local player tryouts in October.
The Thunderbirds used the final selection of the first round to add point guard Troy Bell, a 6'1, 180 pound point guard from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Bell was a member of the United States World Championship for Young Men team that won gold in 2001. During four years at Boston College, Bell earned consensus Second Team All-American honors his junior and senior seasons and was named Big East player of the year as a senior. Bell finished his career as the all time leading scorer with 2,632 points, ranking 21st in NCAA history. He also ranks first in the B.C. record books in free throws made (810) and three point field goals made (300) and ranks third in career scoring average (21.7 ppg).
Bell made six appearances in the 2004-2005 NBA season with the Memphis Grizzlies and spent time in Spain with Real Madrid, where he averaged 5.5 points a game and 4.0 rebounds a game.
With the first pick in the second round and 13th selection overall, the Thunderbirds added Jamaal Thomas a 6-8, 220lb strong forward out of Angelo St. College. Thomas, a native of San Antonio, TX, spent the last few years playing professionally in Mexico for Fuerza Regia Monterey.
Additional 2006 Thunderbird draft picks include: Eddy Fobbs (Sam Houston St.), Manuel Narvaez (Puerto Rico), Brandon Robinson (Auburn), Steven Barber (UT-Arlington), Chris Shumate (Murray St.), Isma'il Muhammad (Georgia Tech), Jason McCoy (Wisconsin-Milwaukee), and Moses Marbury (Rhode Island).
"It was an excellent draft for us. We really strengthened our foundation of returning players from last year," Coach Cooper said. "Having Brandon Robinson back on the team gives us half of our championship squad from last year, and Troy Bell and Jamaal Thomas are going to be big impact players."
Ronald Ross is a New Mexico native born and raised in Hobbs, NM and a graduate of Texas Tech University. Ross was named First Team All-Big 12 as a senior at Texas Tech; he also earned Conference All-Defensive Team honors, and played in 132 career games, the most in school history. Ross also ranks as Texas Tech's all-time steals leader (86), ranks eighth in career assists (320), tenth in career field goal percentage (.496), and 19th in career points (1,174).
Also, be sure to keep up to date on the Thunderbirds website, www.abqtbirds.com, for new pictures and bio's on this years Storm Chasers dance squad.
Thunderbirds 2006-07 season tickets are already on sale and can be purchased at abqtbirds.com or at the Thunderbirds Front Office. For premium or group seating call the Thunderbirds office at (505) 265-DUNK.
The D-League continues to develop talent from across all disciplines for the NBA's 30 teams and the entire NBA umbrella. This season, 19 NBA teams assigned 29 players to D-League affiliates. There were also 18 GATORADE Call-Ups from the D-League to the NBA. Additionally, every referee hired by the NBA since 2002 has worked in the D-League, while coaches, athletic trainers and front office executives are also being developed.
The NBA D-League is composed of the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (N.M.), Anaheim Arsenal (Calif.), Arkansas RimRockers (Little Rock), Austin Toros (Texas), Bakersfield Jam (Calif.), Colorado 14ers (Broomfield), Dakota Wizards (Bismarck, N.D.), Fort Worth Flyers (Texas), Idaho Stampede (Boise), Los Angeles D-Fenders, Sioux Falls Skyforce (S.D.) and Tulsa 66ers (Okla.).
Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the league also offers fun, family entertainment at affordable prices. For additional information on the NBA Development League, visit NBADLEAGUE.com.
For additional information about the Albuquerque Thunderbirds call (505) 265-DUNK or log on to www.abqtbirds.com.
NBA G League Stories from November 3, 2006
- Training camp roster set for Stampede - Idaho Stampede
- Arkansas Selects Matt Haryasz with First Round Pick - Arkansas RimRockers
- Corey Santee and Tommy Swanson Allocated to Flyers - Fort Worth Flyers
- Skyforce completes successful draft - Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Anaheim Arsenal Announce 2006 NBA D-League Draft Selections - Anaheim Arsenal
- Tulsa Selects Denham Brown in First Round - Tulsa 66ers
- Thunderbirds Draft Players to Help Defend Title - New Mexico Thunderbirds
- Stampede go big and athletic in draft - Idaho Stampede
- Jam announces draft results - Bakersfield Jam
- D-Fenders Select Devin Green In First Round Of Draft - Los Angeles D-Fenders
- Fort Worth Flyers Complete Draft - Fort Worth Flyers
- Toros Select Washington as First Pick - Austin Spurs
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