Ivan Harris to workout at the Hawk's mini-camp

According to AJC, Ivan Harris will participate in an upcoming mini-camp with the Atlanta Hawks.

http://blogs.ajc.com/hawks/2009/07/16/mini-camp-invitees/?cxntfid=blogs_hawks

B3tv Feature Video: Je'Kel Foster 'Oldenburg Swag'

Special thanks to BasketsOldenburg for the great clips and coverage.

#8 Je'kel Foster

-Age 25

-Natchez, Mississippi (Natchez High School)

-2003 Freshmen: Howard Junior College (Big Spring, Texas)

-2004 Sophomore: Chipola Junior College (Marianna, Florida) NJCAA Division I First Team All-American

-2005/2006 Junior and Senior years: The Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio) 2006 1st team All Big Ten Defense. 2005/2006 Big Ten Champions, NCAA appearance and win.

-2006 1st year pro Rookie: Ludwigsburg (German Bundesliga BBL)

-2007 2nd year pro: Paris-Levallois (France Pro B League)

-2008 3rd year pro: EWE Baskets Oldenburg (German Bundesliga BBL) 2008/2009 BBL Champions.

News & Notes: Hunter, a late addition to the Golden State Summer Roster, Thunder sign Mullens...

- Restricted free agent Othello Hunter was added to the Golden State Warriors Summer League team. Othello's future is currently unclear, hopefully Atlanta resigns him (the hawks do not have a summer league team), but he could very well be in another jersey next season. Getting a little bit of summer league run in Vegas can not hurt.

-On the unfortunate flip side, Ivan Harris did not make the Cavaliers Summer League. His next move will be interesting as well. I would like to think that he would still have a spot with the D-League's Erie Bayhawks.

-On Saturday the Oklahoma City Thunder announced the signings of rookies James Harden, Byron Mullens, and Serge Ibaka. Terms of the deals were not disclosed. Mullens begins play in the Vegas Summer League on Sunday July 12th. The Thunder play Memphis which will present a matchup with #2 overall pick Hasheem Thabeet.

-Former Buckeye All-American Jessica Davenport finally got her wet with her new team the Indiana Fever on Fri July 10th. The reserve center scored 15 points in blowout victory over the Chicago Sky.

Golden State Summer League Roster: http://www.nba.com/warriors/news/2009_summer_league_announcement.html

Thunder Sign Rookies: http://www.nba.com/warriors/news/2009_summer_league_announcement.html

Fever rout Chicago: http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=306320

Mullens shows out on Day Four at the Orlando Summer League

Something got into Byron Mullens on day four at the Orlando Summer League vs NJ/Philly. Maybe it was just getting more comfortable as the week elapsed, or maybe it was an inadvertent shot to the chops that required medical attention early in the 1st. But whatever it was, Mullens would turn it into a very good performance.

Oklahoma City Summer League coach Brian Keefe decided to give Mullens the start over Serge Ibaka. Mullens really seemed to take that oppurtunity to heart because he got off to a very fast start. Right off the jump Byron aggresively ran the floor, repeatedly beating his man to the block for good post position, or filling lanes in transition for easy looks.

He started out with a tough contested jumper over Marreese Speights. From there Byron would not look back, he then hit two wide open mid range js before throwing down two well placed lobs. The dude was so comfortable out there that he even attempted a top of the key three pointer! He had 12 first half points, and finished with 18, which included a monster put back slam in the 2nd half.

"We just turned on the defense in the first quarter and it started right there," said Mullens.

If you viewed this summer league game, you saw all of the potential that people see/saw in this guy. Mullens was all over the place, even battling on the boards and on D. And it was great to see. This kid obviously needs to improve, but I get the feelilng that he'll flourish once he gets rid of his own self doubts and mental hurdles. This was the best Mullens performance that I've seen.

Game recap & boxscore http://www.nba.com/magic/news/OKC-NJNPHI_recap_070909.html


Byron finishes up Summer League in Orlando tommarow vs Utah at 11:AM.

Watch for free here :) http://www.nba.com/magic/2009_Orlando_Pro_Summer_League.html

B3tv Feature Video: Ivan Harris 'Oak Hill to Ohio State' Throwback Mix

Whether he makes the Cavs' Summer League team or not, this has still been a great year of basketball for Ohio State's own, the 'Microwave' Ivan Harris. Ivan has steadily improved in each year of his career. He has developed a pro caliber shot to go with rock solid fundamentals.

These abilities helped him start every game for the Erie Bayhawks in the 2008/09 NBA D-League season. Harris avraged 15.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. He also gained a reputation as a
deadly three point shooter.

That development was occurring right before our eyes at Ohio State, although at the time we probably didn't think too much about it until Ivan's senior year rolled around.

Anways it is pretty cool that Harris is getting a little shine, because he has always kind of played in the shadows of other players. When you think about it, Ivan has really played with some serious talent throughout his career. He transfered from Springfield HS to Oak Hill Aacademy for his senior year of high school ball. There he played with Marcus Willaims, J.R Reynolds, and Isaiah Swann, then you throw in Terence Dials, Ron Lewis, Mike Conley, Daequan Cook, Greg Oden etc..and yeah Harris has been apart of some winning teams. So keep shooting Ivan, hopefully the oppurtunities keep coming.

Ivan Harris 'From Oak Hill to Ohio State' Senior Throwback Mix :)

Orlando Pro Summer League: Brief Day 3 thoughts

Yesterday I finally got a live chance to view B.J, who wants to be known as his real first name Byron, and the Oklahoma City thunder in day 3 action of the Orlando Summer, as well as clips from the the first two days. I wrote down some quick thoughts as I watched.

(these are just basic notes of what stood out as a basketball fan, not really 'hard' evaluation. You can't really extrapolate too much from Summer League play where there are big stretches of bad play, and guys barely want to pass. This is not the type of setting conducive to all around quality play, or the style that helps a young big man..)

The Good

-One thing that jumps out at you right away about Mullens is that he does move well for a guy his size. Initially, it certainly looks like he 'belongs' with athletes of this caliber...(although I realize that while there is a bit of a jump from high end D1 to NBA summer/d-league rosters, it not quite NBA yet) Byron looks like Conley Jr. compared to some of the other seven footers in Orlando like Robert Swift and Roy Hibbert. He never had many questions in that regard. On day three Mullens was mostly matched up with true center Robert Swift, and 6'11 euro face up style PF Nick Fazekas.

-The one thing that Byron seems to be at least a little bit comfortable doing out there is taking the mid range jumper. And that is something we did not see in his short stint at Ohio State. Mullens reiterated how all the pre-draft practice helped out with his shot in interviews, and he has been able to show some touch.

-Made a couple nice passes from the high post in the 2nd quarter. One was a nice bounce pass to a back cutting Shaun Livingston, the other was to Kyle Weaver on the same play.

-Got a chance to display his athleticism that wowed so many in AAU by skying for an alley oop in the 3rd quarter.

The not so Good

-fouling all over the place, it's to be expected for a young big. I remember Oden fouled frequently in summer league (nba as well). You would still like to see Byron send some back instead of picking up the foul.

-Just needs to impove his overall defensive presence all together. It is okay to be aggressive, even if it is summer league and it is hard for big men to get into a rhythm. He also got burned a couple times defending the pick & roll.

But overall I would day Mullens has been decent, he suprised me with his shooting and passing.

Other guys who looked good: James Harden, Westbrook, Gabe Pruitt had some monster thowdowns, Tyler Hansbrough, Chris Lofton, Ryan Anderson

Koufos opts out of summer league, looks ahead to Eurobasket. Ivan Harris to the Cavs summer team? Mullens makes pro debut.

The Salt Lake Tribune tribune reports that Kosta Koufos has decided not to participate in the Orlando Pro Summer League this week in favor of the continued healing of a hand injury.

The Canton product would ideally like to be one hundred percent for his upcoming international debut with the senior Greek national team. Koufos will leave on July 18th to join his teammates in preparation of Eurobasket 2009 in Poland. Many remember that Kosta made a bit of a splash internationally by dominating the 2007 Fiba U18 Tournament, prompting a five million dollar offer from Greek basketball powerhouse Olympiakos. This first tournament could mark the start of a long relationship with the Greek national team for Koufos.

-B3-

(http://www.sltrib.com/jazz/ci_12761954)


-Notes-

- For some reason it seems like the Cleveland Cavaliers are attemping to be the last team in the league to reveal their offical Summer League roster. I mean really it's not that big a deal but shit just about every team except the Cavs have a full roster out. The reason this is of importance is because it is speculated that Buckeye baller Ivan Harris could be on the roster. Harris is coming off a season where he shined with the Erie Bayhawks, the then D-League affiliate to the Cavaliers. He was invited to the Cavs minicamp last week, as well as a D-League pro camp workout in Los Angeles with the hopes of impressing scouts/gms. (http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090627/BASKETBALL05/306279941/-1/SPORTS40) Now the tension builds to see if Ivan, was indeed selected to be on the Cavaliers Summer League roster. But of course the Cavs would be one of the last damn teams to release such info..

- B.J. Mullens made his unoffical professional debut on July 6th at the Orlando Pro Summer League. He finished with 11 pts & 3 boards in a little over 20 minutes vs Orlando. I'll have more coverage on Mullens' play as I a chance to actually watch the games.

http://www.nba.com/media/magic/orlokc_boxscore_070609.pdf

http://www.nba.com/magic/09sl_scores.html

Smith's 28 points not enough in overtime loss to the Sun.

July 5th, 2009

Connecticut Sun 95
Detroit Shock 92

Katie Smith's game high 28 points, which included three clutch 3-pointers in the 4th quarter & overtime could not put the struggling Detroit Shock over the top in an overtime loss to the Connecticut Sun on the 5th.

-B3-

fom WNBA.com

Detroit, which fell to 2-7, got 28 points from Katie Smith and 20 from rookie Shavonte Zellous. The defending champions also lost star Deanna Nolan to a pulled right hamstring in the third quarter. Nolan day-to-day.

"It's frustrating,'' Smith said. "This whole season has been. We played better today.''

Smith's 3-pointer put Detroit ahead 79-77 in the final minute of regulation, but Lindsey Whalen forced overtime with a pair of free throws with 8 seconds remaining.

Phillips started overtime with a three-point play, and her 3-pointer made it 90-85 with 54 seconds to go. Smith answered with a 3-pointer, but Ashja Jones put it away with a short jumper.

"We played well enough to win, and we had a good offensive game, but we didn't get the key stops we needed,'' Detroit coach Rick Mahorn said.

http://www.wnba.com/games/20090705/CONDET/recap.html

Je'kel Foster & EWE Baskets Oldenburg win 2009 German League Championship!

Third year pro Je'kel Foster capped off a strong season with EWE Baskets Oldenburg by nailing the title clinching free throw to put away Ken Johnson's Telekom Baskets Bonn in the German BBL finals last week (6/25/2009).

EuroCup Basketball reports

6/25/2009

"EWE Baskets Oldenburg is the German League champion! Oldenburg outlasted Telekom Baskets Bonn 71-70 in a thrilling Game 5 to the best-of-five series that featured five lead changes and four ties in the last five minutes alone. E.J. Rowland put Bonn ahead 67-70 with 43 seconds to go, but missed a chance to ice the game from the line 21 seconds later. Jason Gardner tied the game with a three-point play with 11 seconds to go and after a Bonn turnover, Je'Kel Foster sank the game-winning free throw with 4 seconds remaining, lifting Oldenburg to its first championship ever.

Rickey Paulding was named finals MVP after finishing Game 5 with 20 points. Foster added 18 for the winners, Gardner scored 14 and Ruben Boumtje Boumtje posted 9 points and 9 rebounds. Rowland led Bonn with 22 points, Patrick Flomo recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds and Brandon Bowman finished with 14 and 8. It was a nerve-racking game that was high 0n turnovers – 15 for Oldenburg, 17 for Bonn – and featured poor free-throw shooting, but Foster was able to make the one that mattered the most in the end."

Continued...

http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/item/54736

Matt Terwilliger plays in the BBL as well. He plays for a team called Paderborn Baskets, Twigs' best game in his rookie pro season (08/09) was a 13 point outing.

2009 NBA Summer League - Spotlight B.J. Mullens

(J.P Wilson/ OKC Thunder Photos)

The annual NBA Vegas Summer League is many things, a great display of textbook basketball it is not. However, Summer League always proves to be a winner for its 'first look' presentation of new rookie draft class. One of the more intriguing post draft story lines of the summer will be that of the play of center B.J. Mullens. Many seemed to have an opinion about Mullens' decision to opt for the NBA over another year at The Ohio State University, then again some did not have an opinion at all, others might have not even heard of the young Columbus ball player all together. That was the growing reality for Mullens, a player who went from a out of HS top 10 projection to an almost post-lottery afterthought.

Yet, the great thing about the month of July is that for the first time, rookies get a chance to create new realities. This is where they will begin their NBA journeys, this is where they can begin to prove things to themselves and the doubters. And if anyone should be playing with an Oklahoma sized chip on his shoulder, it is B.J. Mullens. I must say that I am very interested in seeing him play again. The lasting image of Mullens getting bodied up by Siena's Ryan Rossiter is not a great one for a Buckeye fan. By many accounts B.J.( drafted #24 overall, then traded) had decent draft workouts, but that obviously was not enough to comfort gm's fears about holes in his game. However, lost in all that talk is that he may have found himself to be in a very good situation with the Oklahoma City Thunder. In Oklahoma City, Mullens will join a good young core of players featuring rising star Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and now silky sooth James Harden. Here he won't have to play with much pressure at all, he just has to get better. Summer League competition is obviously not the NBA playoffs, but it still filled with name guys, current NBA players, big time athletes, and guys with size like like Mullens. It will be very interesting to view how he fares. Lets take a look at the roster.

- The 2009 Oklahoma City Thunder Summer League Roster -

15 DeAngelo Alexander# G 6-5 215 01/21/84 Charlotte R
15 Marcus Dove* F 6-9 212 06/17/85 Oklahoma State R
17 Moses Ehambe F 6-6 200 05/22/86 Oral Roberts R
13 James Harden G 6-5 220 08/26/89 Arizona State R
50 Devon Hardin C 6-11 235 06/03/86 California R
42 Kyle Hines# F/C 6-6 230 09/02/86 UNC Greensboro R
9 Serge Ibaka F 6-10 220 09/18/89 Congo R
14 Shaun Livingston G 6-7 185 09/11/85 Peoria Central HS (IL) 4
2 Keith McLeod* G 6-2 190 11/05/79 Bowling Green State 5
23 B.J. Mullens C 7-0 275 02/14/89 Ohio State R
11 Richard Roby* G 6-6 205 09/28/85 Colorado R
45 Doug Thomas* F 6-8 245 09/20/83 Iowa R
5 Kyle Weaver G 6-6 201 02/18/86 Washington State 1
0 Russell Westbrook# G 6-3 187 11/12/88 UCLA 1
3 D.J. White F 6-9 251 08/31/86 Indiana 1
30 Robert Vaden G 6-5 205 03/03/85 Alabama-Birmingham R

Notes:

-All eyes will especially be on Russell Westbrook as well as the rookies Harden & Mullens. But they have some help on their side with the likes of Cal big man Devon Hardin and Shawn Livingston, a former prep star who is attempting to rebuild his career after a devastating knee injury.

-Robert Vaden & DJ White played together at Indiana under Mike Davis.

-Marcus Dove is a versatile forward out of Oklahoma State.

-I never liked Doug Thomas, but maybe that is because he played for Iowa..he's been overseas for a couple years so he might have improved.

-Keith McLeod is a solid vet, this must be in 3rd or 4th summer league...he takes the young guys to school here.

-Also keep an eye on Serge Ibaka from Congo, he's a physical specimen who can really get up)

- Schedule -

Mullens & Oklahoma City will get a chance to first play in Florida in the Orlando Pro Summer league before entering the more heralded NBA Vegas Summer League on the 12th.

Date	Opponent	Time (CDT)
July 6	Orlando	4:00 p.m.
July 7	Indiana	6:00 p.m.
July 8	Boston	4:00 p.m.
July 9	NJ/Phil	2:00 p.m.
July 10	Utah (Kosta Koufos)	10:00 a.m.

(All Times CDT Vegas)
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIPOFF
Sunday, July 12 Memphis Grizzlies 7:00 p.m. COX Pavilion
Tuesday, July 14 L.A. Lakers 7:30 p.m. Thomas & Mack Center
Thursday, July 15 San Antonio Spurs 7:30 p.m. Thomas & Mack Center
Friday, July 17 Chicago Bulls 7:30 p.m. Thomas & Mack Center
Saturday, July 18 Dallas Mavericks 3:00 p.m. COX Pavilion

Opposing teams' big guys

Memphis -
34 Hasheem Thabeet C 7-3 267
15 Hamed Haddadi C 7-2 265
30 Longar Longar C 6-11 234
35 Greg Stiemsma C 6-11 260

(Notes: The tallest team in the pool right out of the gate with a big time matchup with #2 Overall pick Hasheem Thabeet. Hadin/Ibaka/Mullens will also have to deal with Iranian project Hamed Haddadi and Longar Longar, Stiemsma played at Wisconsin.)

L.A Lakers-
50 Aron Baynes C 6-11 270

55 Luke Schenscher C 7-1 260
41 Chinemelu Elonu F 6-10 240

(Notes: Schenscher played on Georgia Tech's national runner up team)

San Antonio Spurs-
45 DeJuan Blair F 6-7 265
28 Ian Mahinmi C 6-11
19 Marcus Vinicius F 6-9

(Notes: DeJuan Blair..oh my..that might not be a pretty sight)

Chicago Bulls -
50 Luke Zeller C 6-11 240
42 Nick Lewis F/C 6-11 240
22 Taj Gibson F 6-9 225
40 James Augustine F/C 6-10 240

(Notes: Some of these guys will test Mullens' ability to defend out a little bit and guard face up shooters. Augustine played on the fighting Illini's National Runner up team. Terence Dials had his way with James a couple times back at Ohio State.)

http://www.nbadraft.net/node/8843

You can view all summer leagues at www.nba.com/summerleague ..just sign up it's free! Also NBATV will be showing games as well.

-B3-