Corey "Homicide" Williams, All Time NBL Games Record Holder Tony Ronaldson & sharp shooters John Rillie & Kevin Lisch Headline the Rosters Released for Foot Locker Elite Classic - High Stakes Hoops.
Peter Crawford, Chris Goulding, Luke Schenscher and Adam Gibson all key recent signings.
Rosters were today released by ECB listing the majority of players who will take part in the Foot Locker Elite Classic - High Stakes Hoops, Adelaide Dome, April 6-11 and broadcast LIVE on One.
Long-time NBL star & games record holder Tony Ronaldson, reigning MVP of the NBL, Corey "Homicide" Williams, and one of the games' contemporary greats and former MVP Sam Mackinnon, headline the impressive list of marquee names joining the Foot Locker Elite Classic event.
Reigning Champions Perth Wildcats are well-represented with Luke Schenscher, Kevin Lisch, Galen Young and Damien Martin signing with various teams after their recent golden run.
Key Points - Team by Team
Long range master John Rillie will join what is shaping to be the events 'glamour' squad the Pythons - owned by AFL star Lance "Buddy" Franklin and coached by Mark Bradtke. The Pythons already had signed 2009 NCAA Slam Dunk champ Tony Danridge, who will fly in directly from the NBDL where he's been a heartbeat away from the NBA, while Homicide Williams and four additional Americans - Geremy Robinson (University of Hawaii), Kevin Johnson, Harry Lum and Dante Sykes will give the squad plenty of weaponry.
The quiet achievers over the last month have been the Pat Reidy/Matt Shanahan owned Rays team. The curtains came off the product today though, with the revelation that the Rays have secured sharp-shooter Peter Crawford, Tony Ronaldson, Wildcats Damien Martin & Kevin Lisch, Gold Coast and Australian guard Adam Gibson, Brad Hill and two Overseas Player Draftees Freddy Robinson and David Fisher.
Julie Corletto was quick to snap up the Coasters Team in the early days following the announcement of the Foot Locker Elite Classic - High Stakes Hoops, and clearly she had a plan in mind. Sam Mackinnon brings instant star power, and will be joined by Overseas Player Draftee D'Lancy Carter, high flyer Bennett Davison who has been plying his trade in Europe since his short but explosive stint in the NBL over a decade ago and the controversial but talented Sean Lampley. The high scoring Mike Helms was drafted by the Coasters, and Brad Davidson will provide a steady hand.
Arguably the most talented team in the Foot Locker Elite Classic - High Stakes Hoops will be the Monarchs. Owned by John de la Torre, a man familiar with the mechanisms of the Twenty/20 cricket phenomenon, the Monarchs boast a host of stars. Rashard Tucker, Galen Young, Isiah Victor headline the group, while further Americans including Ed Millard, Martinis Woody and Scott O'Gallagher will add to this star-studded cast. Wayne Oliver, a player best known as one of the key real-life characters upon which the movie Coach Carter was based, joins the monarchs directly from his latest contract in France. A prominent perimeter Australian player is set to be announced in the next 48 hours, while by the end of the week the Monarchs plan one further announcement which would shake the foundations of the Adelaide Dome.
Australian talent aplenty can be found between the Reef and Cyclones squads. Bruce Bolden takes charge of the Cyclones, where Graeme Dann, Clint Reed, and BJ Carter will be joined by two Overseas Player Draftees, Terrence Woodberry and Mario Brown - with a well known European based Australian player still set to be revealed. The Reef will boast strong Australian talent including the athletic John Fitzgerald, Nathan Niesler, David Bartholomaeus and Blagoj Janev, complimented by the veteran Jason Cameron and American Draftee Shane Edwards. Two further American signings are imminent.
Retired NBA veteran Sedale Threatt (Lakers, Supersonics) will coach the Rush, owned by all time NBL great Lanard Copeland. Rush have opted for mix of size and speed. Sedale Threatt Jr, Daniel Dillon, Michael Rose (Melbourne Tigers, 2010) and Overseas Player Draftees Lonnie Harrell and Michael Boone - standing 7'2' in the old language - will add strength to the group, as will Chris Brown and Brad Bridgewater, both signed outside of the Draft process. Thalo Green looks to show his wares in an attempt to re-start his NBL career as a naturalised Australian.
Home-town support will doubt be difficult to wrest away from the Brett Maher owned Fleet. Maher announced a comeback for the Foot Locker Elite Classic and will step on to the court that now bears his name. He will be joined by fan favourite Willie Farley, another home town hero Luke Schenscher and direct American signing Troy Jackson, tipped to attract instant NBL recruiting attention. Locals Chris Molitor and Tom Daly get their chance to join legends that have treaded the path before them, while gun Gold Coast guard Chris Goulding and Overseas Player Draftee David Carson join this very strong unit. All will be pulled together by the inimitable NBL Championship winning coach, Ken Cole, who has travelled from San Diego to be a part of the Foot Locker Elite Classic - High Stakes Hoops. One major player signing may still be made by the Fleet - watch this space.
The Foot Locker Elite Classic - High Stakes Hoops will be broadcast LIVE & exclusively on One, April 6-11. Tickets are available NOW from proticket.com.au .
