87ers announce camp roster

NEWARK, DE. – The Delaware 87ers today announced their training camp roster in preparation for their inaugural season, which begins on Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Canton Charge. 

 Training camp will take place at Delaware Technical Community College’s Stanton Gymnasium beginning on Friday, Nov. 15 and runs through Thursday, Nov. 21.

Fans are invited to free open practice followed by a team autograph session at Delaware Tech on Saturday, Nov. 16 from 11:30 a.m. till 12:30 p.m.

Of the 16 players on the Sevens training camp roster, five were selected from open tryouts held in Philadelphia on Oct. 12 and in Delaware on Oct. 19.  One player was acquired via trade and another is a designated affiliate.  The additional nine players on the roster were selected in the 2013-14 NBA Development League Draft held on Nov. 1.

Below is the complete training camp roster for the 87ers:

NO.	NAME	POS.	HT.	WT.	DOB	FROM
19	Athanasios Antetokounmpo	F	6-7	215	7/17/92	Greece
4	Aquille Carr	G	5-6	148	9/28/93	Princeton Day Academy
23	Justin Glover	G	6-3	190	10/10/91	Winston Salem State
33	Gerald "JR" Inman	F-C	6-10	225	3/4/87	Rutgers
41	Reggie Johnson	C	6-10	290	12/16/89	Miami (Fla.)
21	Ed Jones	G	6-7	215	2/12/86	North Carolina A&T
6	Keon Lawrence	G	6-2	177	10/1/87	Seton Hall
10	Nurideen Lindsey	G	6-3	180	9/23/90	Rider
17	Darin Mency	G	6-3	210	1/30/90	Merrimack College
15	Norvel Pelle	F	6-10	207	2/3/93	Los Angeles Prep
14	Dustin Salisbery	G-F	6-5	205	10/19/84	Temple
18	Damian Saunders	F	6-8	214	11/1/88	Duquesne
12	Mfon Udofia	G	6-2	194	8/1/90	Georgia Tech
24	Steve Weingarten	F	6-8	215	11/2/88	La Salle
32	Stefan Welsh	G	6-4	190	11/17/87	Arkansas
22	Rodney Williams	F	6-7	205	7/23/91	Minnesota

87ers name Rod Baker first coach

NEWARK, DE. – The Delaware 87ers today announced that they have named Rod Baker the first coach in franchise history. 

Baker brings 35 years of coaching experience to the Sevens and most recently served as an assistant coach for the Bakersfield Jam.

“We had a long list of worthy candidates interested in coaching the Sevens and are thrilled to have a coach as experienced and successful as Rod join our organization,” said 87ers General Manager Brandon D. Williams.  “Rod is a proven winner and is well-versed in developing young players both on and off the court.”

Last season, Baker helped guide the Jam to a franchise best record of 36-14.  Prior to joining the Jam, he spent seven seasons as head coach of the Rochester RazorSharks of the Premier Basketball League.

Baker won over 80 percent of his games with the RazorSharks, compiling a 147-36 mark.  He led the team to four championships and was named Coach of the Year three times.

A graduate of Holy Cross, Baker has an extensive college coaching background.  He began his career as an assistant at Columbia University and has also coached at Tufts University, Seton Hall, UC Irvine, Cincinnati and Rutgers. 

76ers name Williams GM of Delaware 87ers

PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia 76ers have named Brandon D. Williams as the general manager of their NBA Development League team, the Delaware 87ers.

Williams joins the organization after serving eight seasons in the NBA’s League Office, most recently as the NBA’s Associate Vice President of Basketball Operations. 

Prior to that position, Williams served as the Director of Player Development in the NBA’s Community and Player Programs department.  He worked closely with teams across the league in helping prepare players for the demands of being a professional athlete as well as aiding their eventual transition away from the game to a second career.

Williams is well versed in the challenges a young player faces in his pursuit of making the NBA.  A standout player at Davidson, Williams earned All-Southern Conference First Team honors as a senior in 1996. After going undrafted, Williams played both overseas and in the Continental Basketball Association before appearing in his first NBA game as a member of the Golden State Warriors in 1998. 

The following season, Williams was picked up by the San Antonio Spurs, who went onto win the NBA Championship. All totaled for his career, Williams played internationally in six countries. He also experienced the D-League up close as an Honorable Mention All D-League player for the Huntsville Flight in 2003.

Delaware 87ers announce their inaugural season schedule

NEWARK, DEL. –  The Delaware 87ers announced their inaugural season schedule today with their home opener on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 7:00 p.m. against the Canton Charge.  The Sevens will play their home games at the University of Delaware’s Bob Carpenter Center in Newark.

Season ticket packages for the Sevens are available for less than $8 a game and can be secured for a limited time with just a $50 deposit by calling a Sevens ticket representative at 302-504-7587.  A full variety of seating options is available, including coveted courtside spots.

Information regarding single game ticket sales will be announced at a later date.

The Sevens will offer a fun and affordable, family-friendly experience featuring a Kid’s Zone for every game with inflatable play areas, face-painters and balloon artists.  With eight games on Fridays, five on Saturdays and two on Sundays, the Sevens schedule gives families plenty of opportunities for a fun night out.

By purchasing season tickets, fans are automatically enrolled as inaugural members of “The Sevens Club” which offers a wide array of benefits, including access to special team events and basketball clinics, guaranteed promotional giveaways, a complimentary ticket to a Philadelphia 76ers home game and much more.  Season ticket holders also lock in their same great seats for every game and have the first right to purchase playoff tickets for the Sevens.

In addition, season ticket holders will have the opportunity to purchase tickets at a reduced rate to the 76ers preseason game against the Boston Celtics on Friday, Oct. 11 which will be played at the Bob Carpenter Center.  That game will be the first time local fans will get to see the 2013-14 Sixers in person.

The Sevens start the season with a five-game road trip beginning on Nov. 23 against Canton and will also play the Austin Toros, Rio Grande Valley Vipers (twice) and Tulsa 66ers before making their debut at home against the Charge on Dec. 8.

The bulk of the Sevens home schedule begins in late January with a season-high four-game homestand from Jan. 24-28.  The Sevens will close out their inaugural regular season schedule by playing five of their final six games at home with the season finale on Apr. 5 vs. the Springfield Armor.

In addition to 24 home games and 24 road games, the Sevens will play an additional two games in the 2014 NBA D-League Showcase which runs from Jan. 5-9 in Reno, Nev.  Conceived prior to the 2004-05 season, the NBA D-League showcase features all 17 NBA D-League teams and provides their players and coaches the opportunity to perform in front of NBA general managers, player personnel executives and scouts.

Last month the 87ers, or Sevens for short,  selected 16 players in the NBA D-League Expansion Draft, seven have played in the NBA, including two players currently on an NBA roster:

Josh Akognon (5-11, 185; Cal State Fullerton) was acquired from the Canton Charge.  The 27-year-old appeared in three games for the Charge in 2011-12, averaging 16 points on 49% shooting.  Akognon signed with the Dallas Mavericks back in April and appeared in three games.  He is currently signed to an NBA contract with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Chris Cooper (6-10, 245; Old Dominion) was acquired from the Bakersfield Jam.  The 23-year-old appeared in 47 games with one start for the Jam last season, averaging four points and six rebounds in 17 minutes per game.  Cooper was selected by Bakersfield in the second round of the 2012 D-League Draft.

Jerome Dyson (6-3, 180; Connecticut) was acquired from the Tulsa 66ers.  The 26-year-old played two seasons for the 66ers in 2010-11 and 2011-12, averaging a combined 17 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals in 30 minutes per game.  Dyson also appeared in nine games with one start for New Orleans during the 2011-12 NBA season, averaging seven points in 20 minutes per game.

Kyle Fogg (6-3, 188; Arizona) was acquired from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.  The 23-year-old appeared in 37 games with 10 starts for the Vipers this past season, averaging six points, three rebounds and two assists in 18 minutes per game.

Jeremy Green (6-4, 195; Stanford) was acquired from the Erie BayHawks.  The 23-year-old appeared in a total of 22 games for the BayHawks and the Los Angeles D-Fenders in 2011-12, averaging six points in 19 minutes per game.

Frank Hassell (6-8, 235; Old Dominion) was acquired from Canton.  The 25-year-old appeared in 39 games with six starts for the Charge in 2011-12, averaging 11 points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes per game while shooting 56% from the floor.

Darington Hobson (6-7, 210; New Mexico) was acquired from the Santa Cruz Warriors.  The 25-year-old has appeared in 44 career D-League games with 16 starts with the Warriors and the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, averaging 10 points, six rebounds and four assists in 26 minutes per game.  Hobson was the 37th overall pick by Milwaukee in the 2010 NBA Draft and appeared in five games for the Bucks in 2011-12.

Leo Lyons (6-9, 235; Missouri) was acquired from Santa Cruz.  The 26-year-old has appeared in 74 career D-League games for the Austin Toros and Dakota Wizards, averaging 14 points, seven rebounds and two assists in 28 minutes per game.

Ramone Moore (6-4, 190; Temple) was acquired from the Springfield Armor.  The 24-year-old Philly native appeared in 37 games with 13 starts for the Armor last season, averaging nine points in 24 minutes per game.  Moore led the Philadelphia Public League in scoring as a senior at South Philadelphia High School in 2007.

Hamady N’Diaye (7-0, 240; Rutgers) was acquired from the Maine Red Claws.  The 26-year-old appeared has appeared in 34 career D-League games with 18 starts for Dakota, the Iowa Energy and Maine, averaging six points and three blocks in 22 minutes per game while shooting 56% from the floor.  N’Diaye also appeared in a total of 19 NBA games for Washington in 2010-11 and 2011-12.  He was the 56th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft by Minnesota.

Reeves Nelson (6-8, 235; UCLA) was acquired from Los Angeles.  The 21-year-old appeared in one game for the Defenders this past season and also saw action in three preseason games for the Lakers.

Jerome Randle (5-9, 170; California) was acquired from Maine.  The 26-year-old appeared in 15 games with 10 starts for the Texas Legends and Maine in 2011-12, averaging 14 points, four assists and three rebounds in 27 minutes per game while shooting 51% from the floor.

Ish Smith (6-0, 175; Wake Forest) was acquired from Los Angeles.  The 25-year-old has played in 121 NBA games with seven starts across three seasons for Houston, Memphis, Golden State, Orlando and Milwaukee.  Smith last played in the D-League for Rio Grande Valley in 2010-11, averaging 13 points, eight assists, four rebounds and two steals in eight games with five starts.  He is currently signed to an NBA contract with the Phoenix Suns.

Willie Warren (6-4, 200; Oklahoma) was acquired from Rio Grande Valley.  The 23-year-old has appeared in 26 career D-League games with five starts for Bakersfield in 2010-11 and the Vipers in 2011-12, averaging 17 points, five assists and three rebounds in 25 minutes per game.  Warren was the 54th overall pick by the L.A. Clippers in the 2010 NBA Draft and saw action in 19 games for the Clippers in 2010-11.

Tyler Wilkerson (6-8, 240; Marshall) was acquired from Austin.  The 25-year-old appeared in 36 games with 23 starts for the Toros this past season, averaging 12 points and eight rebounds in 24 minutes per game while shooting 53% from the floor.

Sean Williams (6-10, 235; Boston College) was acquired from Texas.  The 26-year-old has appeared in 114 career D-League games with 90 starts for the Legends and Colorado 14ers, averaging 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in 29 minutes per game.  Williams was the 17th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft by New Jersey and has appeared in 137 games with 29 starts across four NBA seasons, averaging four points, three rebounds and one block in 14 minutes per game.