Vipers Acquire Ivey, Griffin and Drew in 2021 G League Draft
October 23, 2021 - NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release
EDINBURG, Texas - The Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the NBA G League Affiliate of the Houston Rockets, selected guard Jimond Ivey with the 77th overall pick in the 2021 NBA G League Draft. The Vipers also acquired forward Alan Griffin and guard Lindsey Drew.
RGV also selected forward Cullen Russo with the 28th overall pick in the 2021 NBA G League Draft and guard Eric Demers with the 49th overall pick.
Following the conclusion of the draft, the Vipers acquired Alan Griffin (12th overall pick) from Santa Cruz Warriors. In exchange, RGV traded its 2022-23 second-round pick in the NBA G League Draft to the Warriors.
In part of a three-team trade, RGV acquired Lindsey Drew (74th overall pick) from Maine Celtics. In return, Maine received Russo and Demers. In addition, Santa Cruz acquired Isaiah Ross from Maine. Trades are not subject to a physical.
The Vipers' complete 2021 NBA G League Draft Picks can be found below.
Round Pick Name Position HT WT School
1 28 Cullen Russo Forward 6-9 235 Fresno State
2 21 Eric Demers Guard 6-1 190 Gordon College
3 28 Jimond Ivey Guard 6-5 201 University of Akron
Ivey has played overseas the past three seasons, most recently starting in all 25 games at T71 Dudelange in the Total League from Luxembourg during the 2020-21 season. He averaged 20.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.1 steals per 38.2 minutes played.
Prior to T71 Dudelange, Ivey played at Zornotza ST, part of the LEB Silver League in Spain, for the 2019-20 and 2018-19 campaigns. In 2019-20, the guard started in seven of the eight games played while averaging 15.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 steals in 30.5 minutes of action.
Ivey played at the University of Akron all four collegiate years (2015-2019). With Akron, the Cleveland, Ohio native totaled 1,259 points, 644 rebounds, 316 assists, 126 steals and 37 blocks in 133 games played (92 starts) throughout his four years.
Griffin played during the 2021-22 season three games with the Los Angeles Lakers during the NBA Summer League. He averaged 3.33 points, 0.7 steals, 0.7 blocks and 1.67 rebounds.
During the 2020-21 season, Griffin played as a junior with the Division I NCAA Syracuse Orange Men's Basketball team where he appeared in 28 games, 27 of which he started. In those 28 games, he totaled 372 points, 33 steals, 46 blocks, 50 assists and 163 rebounds. Due to his numbers Griffin was named to the ACC All-Honorable Mention Team.
Prior to his arrival with Syracuse, Griffin spent his freshman and sophomore year of college with the Big Ten Illinois Fighting Illini. In the 2019-20 season, he appeared in 28 games, averaged 8.9 points. Griffin led the team in three-point shooting at 41.6 percent. In the 2018-2019 season, he played in 30 games and averaged a total of 2.8 points.
Drew spent the 2015-2020 seasons with the University of Nevada, Reno. During the 2019-20 campaign, he started in all 31 games. In the last season with the team, Drew led in rebounds and assists with an average of 6.6 and 4.0, respectively. He ranked third amongst the team in points with an average of 11.4. Drew was the only player at Nevada to score 900 points, obtain 600 rebounds and 500 assists and ended his career with 982 points, 654 rebounds, 508 assists and 168 steals in 130 games played.
Vipers season memberships and single-game tickets for the 2021-22 campaign are available for purchase at 956-56-ARENA. Opening night for the Vipers tips off on Friday, November 5 as they host the Austin Spurs at 7:30 p.m. CST at Bert Ogden Arena.
The complete season schedule can be found at www.rgvipers.com.
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