Top Prospects Highlight 2009 D-League All-Showcase Teams
Published on January 12, 2009 under NBA G League (G League) News Release
NEW YORK, Jan. 12, 2009 - Will Conroy of the Albuquerque Thunderbirds and Coby Karl of the Idaho Stampede highlight the 2009 NBA D-League All-Showcase teams, which were announced today. The All-Showcase teams were selected by a panel of NBA and NBA D-League coaches and front office staff members who were among more than 60 NBA general managers and scouts representing all 30 NBA teams at the four-day, 16-game event at the McKay Events Center in Orem, Utah, home of the Utah Flash.
Joining Conroy and Karl on the NBA D-League All-Showcase First Team are Trey Johnson of the Bakersfield Jam, Antonio Meeking of the Reno Bighorns and Courtney Sims of the Iowa Energy. Conroy, the NBA D-League's leading scorer and the NBA D-League Performer of the Week for games played Jan. 5 - Jan. 9, led the Thunderbirds to two Showcase wins, averaging 25.0 points, 7.0 assists and 5.5 rebounds. Karl averaged 25.0 points, 8.5 assists and 5.5 rebounds while leading the Stampede to two wins. Johnson averaged 30.0 points, 6.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds as the Jam went 2-0. Meeking, who led the Bighorns to two wins, averaged 24.0 points and 10.5 rebound. Sims, averaged 12.5 points and 12.0 rebounds as the Energy went 1-1.
The NBA D-League All-Showcase Second Team features Dontell Jefferson of the Utah Flash, James White of the Anaheim Arsenal, Cartier Martin of the Iowa Energy, Ronald Dupree of the Tulsa 66ers, and Malik Hairston, playing for the Austin Toros while on assignment from the San Antonio Spurs.
An additional 19 players earned Honorable Mention accolades for their performances last week including: Alex Acker (Fort Wayne), Blake Ahearn (Dakota), Tierre Brown (Anaheim), Erik Daniels (Erie), Josh Davis (Colorado), Carl Elliott (Sioux Falls), Kyrylo Fesenko (Utah, on assignment from the Utah Jazz), Gary Forbes (Sioux Falls), Charles Gaines (Austin), J.R. Giddens (Utah, on assignment from the Boston Celtics), Richard Hendrix (Dakota), Chris Hunter (Fort Wayne), (Othyus Jeffers (Iowa), Nick Lewis (Bakersfield), Glen McGowan (Sioux Falls), Keith McLeod (Albuquerque), Brent Petway (Idaho) and Bill Walker (Utah on assignment from the Boston Celtics).
Fans can log onto nba.com/dleague to vote for these top Showcase prospects or their hometown favorites to participate in NBA All-Star festivities as NBA D-League All-Stars. The League's top talent will flaunt their skills at the second-annual Dream Factory and third annual NBA D-League All-Star game at 2009 All-Star in Phoenix. Voting ends Jan. 30.
The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA's official minor league and features 16 teams with direct affiliations to NBA teams. The league has produced 15 percent of the players on 2007-08 end-of-season NBA rosters and continues to develop current NBA coaches and referees. In fostering the league's connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote youth basketball, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. The NBA D-League also advances the game of basketball as the research and development arm of the NBA. Throughout this season fans can watch all NBA D-League games on NBA Futurecast, the free live Web-streaming initiative found at nba.com/futurecast.
A full list of players is below:
2009 NBA D-League Showcase First Team:
PLAYER NBA D-LEAGUE TEAM
Will Conroy Albuquerque Thunderbirds
Coby Karl Idaho Stampede
Trey Johnson Anaheim Arsenal
Antonio Meeking Reno Bighorns
Courtney Sims Iowa Energy
2009 NBA D-League Showcase Second Team:
PLAYER NBA D-LEAGUE TEAM
Dontell Jefferson Utah Flash
James White Anaheim Arsenal
Cartier Martin Iowa Energy
Ronald Dupree Tulsa 66ers
Malik Hariston Austin Toros*
2009 NBA D-League Showcase Honorable Mention:
PLAYER NBA D-LEAGUE TEAM
Alex Acker Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Blake Ahearn Dakota Wizards
Tierre Brown Anaheim Arsenal
Erik Daniels Erie Bayhawks
Josh Davis Colorado 14ers
Carl Elliott Sioux Falls Skyforce
Kyrylo Fesenko Utah Flash
Gary Forbes Sioux Falls Skyforce
Charles Gaines Austin Toros
J.R. Giddens Utah Flash*
Richard Hendrix Dakota Wizards
Chris Hunter Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Othyus Jeffers Iowa Energy
Nick Lewis Bakersfield Jam
Glen McGowan Sioux Falls Skyforce
Keith McLeod Albuquerque Thunderbirds
Brent Petway Idaho Stampede
Bill Walker Utah Flash*
Keith McLeod Albuquerque Thunderbirds
* - indicates on assignment from the NBA
NBA G League Stories from January 12, 2009
- Vipers Host Official Band Competition - Rio Grande Valley Vipers
- Dupree Named to Second Team All-Showcase Squad - Tulsa 66ers
- Skyforce, Mad Ants Swap Guards - Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Flash Point - Utah Flash
- Top Prospects Highlight 2009 D-League All-Showcase Teams - G League
- Colorado 14ers Weekly Update - Colorado 14ers
- Albuquerque's Conroy Named D-League Performer Of The Week - G League
- NBA D-League Daily Developments - G League
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