Xplosion 2006-07 season preview
November 30, 2006 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1)
Pittsburgh Xplosion News Release
PITTSBURGH, November 30, 2006 - History will be made when the Pittsburgh Xplosion take to the court on December 1 at Albany to open the team's 2006-07 Continental Basketball Association season. Coming off an impressive inaugural season in which the team notched an 18-12 record and reached the second round of the playoffs, the Xplosion have constructed a team that General Manager and former ABA hoops legend Freddie Lewis believes possesses the talent to contend for the CBA title.
Steel City coaching legend Larry Anderson has the enviable task of molding a roster that features an ideal blend of veteran experience and youthful exuberance. Having played and coached the game in the region for over 40 years, the former Carnegie Mellon University head coach was a logical choice to direct the club through its first CBA season.
Headlining the team's opening night roster are a pair of area college standouts, West Virginia University All-American Kevin Pittsnogle and Duquesne University star Bryant McAllister. The Xplosion's First Round Draft selection, sixth overall, in the 2006 CBA Draft, Pittsnogle attended training camp with the NBA's Boston Celtics. The First Team All-Big East pick ranks 6th in career scoring at WVU with 1,708 points. He is the school's career leader in games played and three-point field goals made.
An All-State choice as a prep star in suburban Pittsburgh, McAllister was a two-time All-Atlantic 10 selection at Duquesne. He topped the circuit in scoring as a senior averaging 19.7 points per game and came within .08 assists of becoming just the third player in league history to lead the A-10 in both scoring and assists in the same season. The West Mifflin, Pa. native finished his career ranked eighth on Duquesne's all-time scoring list with 1,546 points.
The Xplosion are also bolstered by the presence of former NBA superstar Armon Gilliam (Bethel Park, PA/UNLV). A Pittsburgh native, Gilliam spent 13 seasons in the NBA after leading UNLV to the Final Four and being selected second overall in the 1987 NBA Draft. An outstanding ambassador for basketball in the city, he will serve as a player/coach, working with the team's younger players and also lending his skills on the court. He averaged 23 points and 9.0 rebounds in 2005-06 earning All-Star game MVP honors and Second Team All-League accolades.
He is joined by five other returnees from the club's first season, including guards Coleco Buie (Champaign, IL/Missouri State), Wayne Copeland (Pittsburgh, PA/Lynn) and Isaac Jefferson (Columbus, OH/Hampton) and forwards DeVaughn Halsel (Pittsburgh, PA/Point Park), , and Janerio Spurlock (Cincinnati, OH/Kansas State).
The sharp-shooting Buie, who averaged 21.0 points per game, joined Gilliam on the league All-Star team in 2006 and was a finalist for Player of the Year honors. Copeland is the consummate point guard adept at running the offense and ball-hawking on defense. Jefferson is a versatile jack-of-all-trades known for his unselfish play and rebounding prowess. A 6-8 forward, Halsel is a tenacious rebounder with a solid post game. The athletic Spurlock emerged as one of the team's go-to players down the stretch last season averaging 20.5 points per game. The quintet provides Anderson with an experienced core to build around.
Three other newcomers, Greg Jenkins (Mt. Vernon, NY/Iona), Marvin Phillips (Jacksonille, NC/Clafin) and Marc Williams (Detroit, MI/Indiana University of Pennsylvania) round out the roster. Both Jenkins and Phillips are likely to catch NBA scouts eyes and rouse fans with their size and athleticism. Williams provides good size at the point.
As the Xplosion take to the court in 2006-07 it will mark the first time in more than 30 years that a Pittsburgh professional basketball franchise will field a team in consecutive seasons. Behind the direction of GM and McKeesport, Pa. native Freddie Lewis the Xplosion feel they have the talent in place to contend for the city's First basketball championship since his ABA playing days.
The Xplosion will play a 48-game CBA schedule including 24 home games at Mellon Arena and Petersen Events Center. The club tip-off its season on December 1 and 2 at Albany and returns home for its season opener on Wednesday, December 6 at 7:00 PM against the Indiana AlleyCats at Mellon Arena. For more information on the team call 877-40-9900 or visit www.pittsburghxplosion.com. Tuckets are available through TicketMaster at 412-323-1919 or www.ticketmaster.com.
PITTSBURGH XPLOSION 2006-07 Roster
Player HT WT POS Hometown College
Coleco Buie 6-5 215 G Champaign, IL SW Missouri St.
Wayne Copeland 6-0 190 G Pittsburgh, PA Lynn
Armon Gilliam 6-9 230 F/C Bethel Park, PA UNLV
Devaughn Halsel 6-8 220 F Pittsburgh, PA Point Park
Isaac Jefferson 6-5 205 G Columbus, OH Hampton
Greg Jenkins 6-10 245 F/C Mt. Vernon, NY Iona
Bryant McAllister 6-3 190 G Pittsburgh, PA Duquesne
Marvin Phillips 6-7 220 F Jacksonville, NC Claflin
Kevin Pittsnogle 6-11 255 F/C Martinsburg, WV West Virginia
Janerio Spurlock 6-6 210 F Cincinnati, OH Kansas St.
Marc Williams 6-3 195 G Detroit, MI Indiana (Pa.)
Head Coach: Larry Anderson
Assistant Coaches: Pat Blue, Pablo Redwood
2006-07 XPLOSION SCHEDULE/RESULTS
DAY DATE OPPONENT............................... TIME QP Fri. Dec. 1 at Albany................................. 7:35 PM
Sat. Dec. 2 at Albany................................. 4:35 PM
Wed. Dec. 6 INDIANA............................... 7:05 PM
Sat. Dec. 9 MINOT................................... 7:05 PM
Mon. Dec. 11 INDIANA............................... 7:05 PM
Mon. Dec. 18 MINOT................................... 7:05 PM
Wed. Dec. 20 at Indiana................................. 7:05 PM
Sat. Dec. 23 ALBANY................................ 7:05 PM
Wed. Dec. 27 at Yakama.............................. 10:05 PM
Fri. Dec. 29 at Utah..................................... 9:05 PM
Sat. Dec. 30 at Butte.................................... 9:05 PM
Mon. Jan. 1 ALBANY................................ 7:05 PM
Wed. Jan. 3 ALBANY................................ 7:05 PM
Thu. Jan. 4 INDIANA............................... 7:05 PM
Sat. Jan. 6 GREAT FALLS #................... 7:05 PM
Mon. Jan. 8 GREAT FALLS #................... 7:05 PM
Wed. Jan. 10 at Minot.................................. 8:05 PM
Thu. Jan. 11 at Minot.................................. 8:05 PM
Sun. Jan. 14 at Indiana................................. 5:00 PM
Wed. Jan. 17 INDIANA............................... 7:35 PM
Fri. Jan. 19 at Minot.................................. 8:05 PM
Tue. Jan. 23 YAKAMA.............................. 7:05 PM
Wed. Jan. 24 YAKAMA.............................. 7:05 PM
Fri. Jan. 26 at Albany................................. 7:35 PM
Sun. Jan. 28 at Albany................................. 7:35 PM
Tue. Jan. 30 at Utah..................................... 9:05 PM
Wed. Jan. 31 at Butte.................................... 9:05 PM
Fri. Feb. 2 at Great Falls........................... 9:05 PM
Sat. Feb. 3 at Great Falls........................... 9:05 PM
Fri. Feb. 9 ALBANY #............................. 7:05 PM
Tue. Feb. 13 UTAH..................................... 7:05 PM
Thu. Feb. 15 UTAH..................................... 7:05 PM
Sun. Feb. 18 at Albany................................. 7:35 PM
Mon. Feb. 19 MINOT................................... 7:05 PM
Wed. Feb. 21 ALBANY #............................. 7:05 PM
Fri. Feb. 23 BUTTE #................................ 7:05 PM
Sun. Feb. 25 BUTTE #................................ 7:05 PM
Tue. Feb. 27 at Minot.................................. 8:05 PM
Wed. Feb. 28 at Minot.................................. 8:05 PM
Sun. Mar. 4 at Indiana................................. 5:05 PM
Fri. Mar. 9 at Indiana................................. 7:05 PM
Sun. Mar. 11 at Indiana................................. 5:05 PM
Tue. Mar. 13 at Minot.................................. 8:05 PM
Mon. Mar. 19 INDIANA #............................ 7:05 PM
Wed. Mar. 21 INDIANA............................... 7:05 PM
Thu. Mar. 22 MINOT................................... 7:05 PM
Fri. Mar. 23 MINOT................................... 7:05 PM
Sun. Mar. 25 at Yakama 10:05 PM
HOME games in CAPS. All times Eastern and subject to change.
Games played at Mellon Arena unless noted.
# - Denotes game played at Petersen Events Center.
XPLOSION PLAYER / COACH PROFILES
Freddie Lewis
Owner / General Manager
Freddie Lewis, an original ABA legend, is the driving force behind the Pittsburgh Xplosion and its goal to lead the resurgence of professional basketball in the region.
During his nine-year ABA career with the Indiana Pacers and the St. Louis Spirit, Lewis averaged 17 points and 4.2 assists per game. He played in the ABA All Star game four times and was named MVP of the All Star game in the 1974-75 season. As a member of the Indiana Pacers, he earned three ABA championship rings.
Lewis developed his shooting and ball-handling skills as a prolific guard for McKeesport High School. His prowess on the basketball court continued at Eastern Arizona Junior College and then Arizona State University. In 1966, he was drafted in the 10th round by the Cincinnati Royals of the NBA. Lewis played one season for the Royals and with NBA superstar Oscar Robertson, before jumping to the ABA and Indiana in 1967. In his first season with the Pacers, Lewis averaged 20.6 points per game. Overall, he averaged more than 20 points in three different ABA seasons, with a career-best average of 22.2 points for the St. Louis Spirit during the 1975-1976 season, when he was 32 years old.
In 1976, Lewis rejoined the Pacers after the team joined the NBA as part of the historic merger with the ABA. He retired after the 1976-1977 season following an 11-year professional career, including two seasons in the NBA and nine in the ABA.
Lewis, 62, resides in McKeesport. In honor of his achievements in professional basketball, the ABA named one of its divisions the Freddie Lewis Division. He fervently believes that Pittsburgh and the CBA will be a winning combination, and that his team will produce future stars that will rise to greater heights in professional basketball, just as he did almost 40 years ago.
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Larry Anderson
Head Coach
Larry Anderson was named head coach of the Pittsburgh Xplosion in September, 2006. One of the most respected names in Pittsburgh-area basketball, Anderson has played and coached the game at the youth, high school and college level in the region for over 40 years.
He is best known as the head men's basketball coach at Carnegie Mellon University from 1983-90. He guided the Tartans for seven seasons and his 56 career victories rank fifth on the school's all-time list.
He also served as an assistant coach at his alma mater Point Park College from 1973-83, as well as an assistant boys coach at Schenley High School from 1990-93. He was an assistant coach with the University of Pittsburgh women's basketball team from 1993-98. Most recently he was the head coach at Pittsburgh's Woodland Hills High School from 2002 -06.
Anderson first came on the Pittsburgh-hoops scene as an All-City performer at South Hills High School. He then played collegiately at Point Park from 1969-73. A team captain, he became the first Pioneer to receive All-District honors.
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Derrick Harrison
Marketing Executive
Derrick Harrison is in his first year as a marketing executive with the Pittsburgh Xplosion. He joins the CBA franchise after spending over a decade coaching basketball at the collegiate level, most recently at Robert Morris University .
Prior to joining the Xplosion, Harrison spent three years as an assistant women's basketball coach at RMU from 2003-06. The 1994 Potsdam State graduate made his way to Pittsburgh after one season as an assistant women's coach at Manhattan College . Before joining Manhattan , he was head women's basketball coach and sports information director at City College of New York from 1999 until 2002. Prior to being hired at CCNY, Harrison was an assistant coach at Hunter College . His career in athletics began as the recruiting coordinator at his alma mater Potsdam from 1994-97.
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#7 - Coleco Buie
Guard / 6-5 / 215 lbs.
Champaign, IL / Southwest Missouri State
PRO CAREER: 2006: Captured IBL Championship with Elkhart Express... 2005-06: A finalist for the ABA Player of the Year award in his first year with the Xplosion, Buie was an All-ABA Honorable Mention selection after averaging 21.0 points and 4.0 assists per game...2006 ABA All-Star...ABA Player of the Week after netting 35 points and nine assists vs. Ohio (1/6)...Set a team record with 50 points in a win over the Kentucky Colonels (1/15)...Tallied 30+ points four times...1997-05: Also excelled playing professionally in Austria, Spain, France Argentina and Bolivia...Played stateside with from 2000-02 with ABA's Indiana Legends.
COLLEGE CAREER: Played college ball at Southwest Missouri State University, averaging 13.4 points.
PERSONAL: A resident of Champaign, Illinois, Buie enjoys playing pool, bowling, watching sports and listening to music.
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#5 - Wayne Copeland
Guard / 6-0 / 190 lbs.
Pittsburgh, PA / Lynn University
PRO CAREER: 2005-2006: Signed with the Xplosion in December 2005...Had a season high 17 points to go with 10 boards and 5 assists during the Xplosion's loss to the Indiana AlleyCats on 01/22/06...Recorded 8 assists in an Xplosion win against the Toledo Ice on 01/21/06...Netted 12 points and dished out 3 assists in the Xplosion's loss on 02/14/06 vs. the Indiana AlleyCats...Dropped in 15 points against the Cleveland Rockers on 01/08/06...2000-2005: Played in Germany where he led his team in scoring, steals, and assists...Played in Denmark where he led his team to Denmark Cup Finals...Named to the All-Euro team and Denmark All-Star team in 2003-2004...Played in the International Basketball Association and USBL...Was a USBL All Star with the Florida Seadragons.
COLLEGE CAREER: Played at Division II Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. from 1998-00...Set NCAA Division II records for steals.
PERSONAL: Pittsburgh native is a graduate of Graduate of Perry Traditional Academy.
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#54 - Armon Gilliam
Center / 6-9 / 230 lbs.
Bethel Park, PA / UNLV
PRO CAREER: 2005-2006: Emerged from retirement and signed with hometown Pittsburgh Xplosion as a free agent... Named to the All-ABA Second Team after averaging 23.0 points and 9.0 rebounds...Selected as the Most Valuable Player of the ABA All-Star Game after scoring 29 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and blocking 4 shots to lead the East over the West....
1987-2000: The second overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft after guiding UNLV to the 1987 Final For...Enjoyed a 13-year NBA career playing for six NBA teams - the Phoenix Suns, Charlotte Hornets, New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz...Member of NBA All-Rookie Team in 1988.
COLLEGE CAREER: Transferred to UNLV and had a career average of 17.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per game from 1985-1987... Was a 1987 finalist for the John Wooden Award after averaging 23.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game...He earned MVP honors at the NCAA West Regional as a senior, helping the Runnin' Rebels to the 1987 NCAA Final Four... Gilliam spent one year at Independence Junior College in Kansas.
PERSONAL: Pittsburgh native attended Bethel Park High School...After retiring from the NBA in 2000 served as a volunteer assistant at Mount Lebanon High School in 2000-01...Spent the 2001-02 season as the head coach at Penn State-McKeesport, guiding the Lions to a 13-9 record in his only year at the junior college...Served as head coach of Division III Penn State-Altoona from 2002-05....Graduated from UNLV with a degree in communications...Enjoys music and plays bass guitar and keyboards...Nicknamed the "Hammer".
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#44 - DeVaughn Halsel
Forward / 6-7 / 225 lbs.
Pittsburgh, PA / Point Park
PRO CAREER: 2005-2006: Averaged 15.2 points and 8.1 rebounds in first season with Xplosion...Scored 20+ points six times...Tallied season-high 25 points vs. Detroit Wheels (12/9)...Team's leading scorer with 20 points in historic opening game vs. Indiana AlleyCats at Mellon Arena (10/30)...2004-2005: Averaged 16.2 points per game for the ABA's Pennsylvania Pit Bulls...1997-04: Played for professional teams in Finland and France.
COLLEGE CAREER: A star player for the Point Park University Pioneers in Pittsburgh from 1995-97...Named a First Team NAIA All-American in junior and senior years...Averaged 21.7 points and 14 rebounds per game during career.
PERSONAL: Pittsburgh native...Works as a counselor for Three Rivers Youth, a private nonprofit agency providing services to abused, neglected, runaway and homeless youth.
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#24 - Isaac Jefferson
Guard / 6-5 / 200 lbs.
Columbus, OH / Hampton University
PRO CAREER: 2005-2006: Averaged 10.4 points and 7.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists in inaugural season with Xplosion...Recorded a near triple double in a loss to the Indiana AlleyCats on 12/11/05 with 9 points, 13 assists, and 17 rebounds...Netted 16 points while grabbing 16 rebounds and dishing out 7 assists in the Xplosion's playoff loss on 03/18/06...Led team in rebounds in 11 games...Tallied season-high 28 points versus Toledo Ice on 2/17/06...Had 14 rebounds in a loss to the Cleveland Rockers on 11/09/05...Scored 14 points while snatching 10 rebounds and giving out 5 assists in a blowout victory over the Ohio Aviators on 01/06/06...Dropped in 14 points and gabbed 9 rebounds in a win over the Toledo Ice on 01/21/06...2004-05: Played with ABA's Cincinnati Monarchs.
COLLEGE CAREER: Completed a four-year career at Division I Hampton University from to 1999-03...Consistently ranked among the MEAC's top rebounders...Helped the Pirates reach the NCAA tournament in 2001 and 2002, including a stunning upset of number two seed Iowa State as a number 15 seed in 2001.
PERSONAL: Native of Columbus, Ohio...Captured men's national AAU title in 2005.
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#XX - Greg Jenkins
Center / 6-9 / 245 lbs.
Mt. Vernon, NY / Iona
PRO CAREER: Signed with the Xplosion in November 2006...2005-06: Spent season with Greek First Division Club Iraklis.
COLLEGE CAREER: Four-year standout at Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y. from 2000-05... First player in Iona history to tally over 1,400 points, 700 rebounds, and 200 blocks in a career...Three-time All-MAAC selection, including first team as a senior. As a senior averaged 15.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game...His 55.8% from the field ranked him 1st in the conference while his 66 blocks ranked him 2nd in the conference... Topped MAAC in FG% and blocks as a junior...Played just five games in 2002-03 before receiving medical redshirt due to shoulder injury... Named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team in 2000-01.
PERSONAL: Led Mt. Vernon HS team that went 28-0 and captured the 2000 New York State Championship.
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#22 - Bryant McAllister
Pittsburgh Xplosion
Guard - 6-3 - 190
Pittsburgh, Pa. / Duquesne University
PRO CAREER: Signed with the Pittsburgh Xplosion in August 2006.
COLLEGE CAREER: Played four seasons at Duquesne University (2002-06)...Finished career ranked eighth on Duquesne's all-time scoring list with 1,546 points...A two-time Second Team All-Atlantic 10 selection...Appeared in 115 of a possible 116 games in his four seasons...Just the sixth player in school history to lead the Atlantic 10 in scoring with a 19.7 ppg. average as a senior...Came within .08 assists of becoming just the third player in league history to lead the Atlantic 10 in both scoring and assists in the same...Shot .771 from the free throw line for his career, including .816 percent (252-of-309) as a junior and senior...Finished ranked in DU's all-time Top 10 in nine different statistical categories.
HIGH SCHOOL CAREER: A graduate of West Mifflin High School...WMHS's all-time leading scorer with 1,514 points...Averaged 20.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.9 steals per game in leading the Titans to a 22-8 record and the Class AAA state championship game for the first time in school history in 2002...A Second Team Associated Press Pennsylvania Big School pick...Named Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
PERSONAL: A native of Pittsburgh, Pa....Father, Bryant Sr., was a three-year football letterman at West Virginia (1984-86) ...Born May 4, 1984.
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#15 - Marvin Phillips
Forward/Guard / 6-7 / 230 lbs.
State College, PA / Claflin College
Pro Career: Signed with the Xplosion in November 2006...Summer 2006: Briefly spent time with NBDL's Anaheim Arsenal (CA)...Played in prestigious Southern California Summer Pro League with NBA Pros...Played with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Breakers of the USBL...2005-2006: Played in the WBA with the South Carolina Heat...2004-2005: Played in the ABA with the Reigning Knights of Georgia.
College Career: 2002-2004: Played two seasons at Division II Claflin College (Orangeburg, SC) under head coach Ron Woodard...2001-2002: Played one season at Dodge City (KS) Community College.
Personal: Born December 28, 1983 in Jacksonville, N.C.
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#34 - Kevin Pittsnogle
Pittsburgh Xplosion
Center - 6-11 - 255
Martinsburg, W.V. / West Virginia University
PRO CAREER: Xplosion's First Round Draft selection, sixth overall, in the 2006 CBA Draft...Signed with club in November 2006...Competed on Miami Heat's 2006
Pepsi Summer Pro League team in Orlando, Fla. and with Dallas Mavericks at Rocky Mountain Review in Salt Lake City... Attended training camp with Boston Celtics.
COLLEGE CAREER: First-team all-BIG EAST in 2006 ... Played the enter and power forward spots ... graduated in 3.5 years with a degree in athletic coaching education ... One of the finalists for the Wooden and Naismith Awards ...Excellent passing skills ... Strong perimeter player who can drain the three-point shot ... Gained experience from international competition in the summers of 2002 and 2003 ...Third-team All-American by the NABC, WVU's first All-American since 1972 ...Ranks 6th in career scoring at WVU with 1,708 points ...First in all-time in career three-point field goals made at WVU (253) ...Second in WVU career three-point field goal percentage (41.1) ...Second all-time in three-point field goals attempted (615) ...Started 105 career games, ranking ninth all-time at WVU ... Sixth in career free throw percentage at 81.6 percent ... Played 128 career games, ranking first all-time at WVU ... Declared for the 2005 NBA
Draft, but withdrew prior to the deadline ... Guided the Mountaineers to three-straight postseason appearances, including trips to the NCAA Tournament's Elite 8 as a junior and the Sweet 16 as a senior.
PERSONAL: Native of Martinsburg, W.V...Birthday is July 30 ... Married on Oct. 9, 2004 (wife Heather) ... Son Kwynsie born on Feb. 3, 2006.
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#42 - Janerio Spurlock
Forward - 6-6 - 210
Cincinnati, Ohio / Kansas State
PRO CAREER: 2005-2006: Signed with the Xplosion as a free agent...Made immediate impact averaging 20.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game...Tallied 30+ points in four games...Scored a career high 35 points in a win over the Toledo Ice on 02/20/06...Dropped in 33 points in a win over the Cleveland Rockers on 12/22/06...Netted 31 points in a loss to the Indiana Alley Cats on 12/11/05...Contributed 30 points and dished out 4 assists in a loss to the Indiana Alley Cats on 01/17/06...Scored 24 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in a win over the Toledo Ice on 01/21/06.
COLLEGE CAREER: Played two seasons at Kansas State (2001-03)...As a junior played in first seven games, including three as a starter, before missing remainder of season with a right patella fracture...Averaged 6.6 points and 4.0 rebounds during... Posted a pair of double-figure scoring outings, finishing with 11 points vs. Tennessee State (Nov. 27) and a career-high 12 points against Gardner-Webb (Dec. 1).
Attended Chipola Junior College in Mairanna, Fla. from 1999-01... Averaged 20.2 points a game as a sophomore... Selected as one of the Top 60 junior college players in the nation by CNNSI.com... Considered the eighth-best 2000 fall recruit in the Big 12 Conference by Prep Stars... A third-team preseason NJCAA All-American in 2000 and two-time All-Panhandle selection (2000, 2001)... Averaged 19 points per game, while connecting on 41 percent (71 of 172) of 3-point attempts as a freshman... Listed as a preseason All-America by Street and Smith's entering 2000-01.
PERSONAL: Born Sept. 3, 1978, in Cincinnati, Ohio... Father is Fred Spurlock... Has two brothers, William and Shawn... Has two children, Aryana and Alicia... Selected as the Ohio Southwest Player of the Year as a senior at Aiken High School... Originally signed with Louisville out of high school.
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#23 - Mark Williams
Guard - 6-3 - 195
Detroit, Mich. / Indiana University (PA)
PRO CAREER: Signed with the Xplosion in November 2006.
COLLEGE CAREER: Played two seasons (2004-06) at Indiana University (Pa.)...Teamed with Lawrence Baker in the backcourt to help make IUP's set of guards one of the best in the country...Averaged 11.9 points, 4.5 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game...Assist total ranked second in the conference and steal total ranked ninth...Shot 46% from the field, 39% from three-point range and 72% from the charity stripe...Earned All-PSAC West Second Team honors during the 2005-06 season...During two seasons at IUP, Williams scored 607 points, dished out 170 assists, and recorded 72 steals. His 127 assists as a senior were the 17th highest figure in school history...Prior to IUP played 2003-04 season at Wayne County Community College, averaging 19.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game...Named All-Region, All-State and selected the second best junior college player in the state of Michigan..
PERSONAL: Born on Apr. 2, 1983...Native of Detroit, Michigan.
CONTINENTAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION HISTORY AND NOTES:
CBA HISTORY:
The Continental Basketball Association or CBA is a professional men's basketball league in the United States. The league views itself as a developmental league for the National Basketball Association. It is affiliated with USA Basketball, the sport's governing body .
The CBA can date its origins back to April 23, 1946, when it was called the Eastern Pennsylvania Basketball League (1946-47). Between 1948 and 1970 it was called the Eastern Professional Basketball League, and then renamed the Eastern Basketball Association. On June 1, 1978, the league's name became the Continental Basketball Association. Tracing the league's operation back to its Pennsylvania origins, it claims to be the oldest professional basketball league in the world (the NBA's predecessor, the Basketball Association of America, also began operations in 1946, but in June of that year). It is currently in its 61st season of continuous operation.
NOTABLE CBA RULES:
The CBA follows the same basketball rules as does the NBA and most other professional leagues. However, in the late 1970s CBA commissioner Jim Drucker added several new rules to increase scoring and raise fan interest.
- During each game, a team can win up to seven standings points - three points for winning the game, and one point for each quarter in which they outscore their opponent. The teams with the greatest number of standings points at the end of the year go to the playoffs.
- A player cannot foul out of the game - after a player's sixth personal foul, the opposing team receives an automatic free throw.
Several CBA rules and innovations were later adopted by the NBA include the three-point line (first used in the CBA in 1964), collapsible rims to keep backboard glass from being destroyed in a dunk (first used by the CBA in 1980), and the offering of three foul shots if a player is fouled in the act of shooting a three-point behind-the-arc play.
FAMOUS CBA ALUMNI The following are a list of players and coaches from the CBA or the Eastern League (the CBA's predecessor) who later went on to successful careers, either in the NBA or in the top college divisions.
Phil Jackson Coached the Albany Patroons for five years; later won nine rings as an NBA head coach with eh Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.
Flip Saunders Ranks second in the CBA with 253 career victories as a head coach; moved on to coach the Minnesota Timberwolves and currently coaches the Detroit Pistons
George Karl Coached the Montana Golden Nuggets and Albany Patroons; later became a head coach with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics and Denver Nuggets.
John Chaney The longtime Temple Owls coach played for the Eastern League's Sunbury Mercuries, and later coached the Williamsport Billies.
Tim Legler The ESPN analyst was a star with the Omaha Racers and later became one of the NBA's premier three-point shooters with the Washington Bullets.
Jim Boeheim Long before he became head coach of the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team, Boeheim was a star for the Scranton Miners in the 1960s.
John Starks Started his professional basketball career with the 1989-90 Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets.
Bill Musselman Coached the Tampa Bay/Rapid City Thrillers and Albany Patroons to four consecutive CBA titles; later became the first head coach of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves.
Eric Musselman The son of the late Bill Musselman, Eric ranks as one of the winningest coaches in CBA history; later became the head coach of the Golden State Warriors, finishing as runner-up for NBA Coach of the Year in 2002-2003, and the Sacramento Kings.
Current NBA players with CBA experience include Raja Bell, Jeff McInnis, Voshon Lenard, Stephen Jackson and Smush Parker.
NOTABLE CBA ACCOMPLISHMENSTS INTEGRATION
In the 1946-47 Eastern League season, the Hazleton Mountaineers had three African-American players on their roster during the season - Bill Brown, Zack Clayton and John Isaacs. Isaacs previously played with an all-black touring squad, the Washington Bears, while Brown and Clayton were alumni of the Harlem Globetrotters.
In the 1955-56 season, the Hazleton Hawks Eastern League team were the first professional league franchise with an all-black starting lineup: Tom Hemans, Jess Arnelle, Fletcher Johnson, Sherman White and Floyd Lane.
THREE-POINT LINE
Although the 1961-63 American Basketball League used a three-point scoring line, the Eastern League added a three-point line for the 1964-65 season. In that year, Brendan McCann of the Allentown Jets led the league with 31 completed 3-pointers for the year. Although three-point plays in the 1960's were very few and far-between, the Eastern League did develop several scorers who used the three-point shot to their advantage, including sharpshooters Stan Pawlak and Rich Cornwall.
ROLLAPSIBLE RIMS
After Darryl Dawkins shattered two basketball rims in the 1979-80 NBA season, the CBA tested out a collapsible hinged rim. Eventually other leagues converted their rims over to the collapsible hinged model, which is still in use today.
TEN-DAY CONTRACT
In the early 1980's, the CBA and the NBA entered into an agreement where CBA players would be signed to 10-day NBA contracts, mostly to replace an injured player or to test out a top prospect. Under the 10-day contract rule, a player is signed at the prorated league minimum salary for 10 calendar days. If the NBA team likes the player, they can sign him to a second 10-day contract. After the second 10-day contract expires, the team must either return the player to the CBA or sign him for the rest of the season.
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