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Trio of Tigers Selected in 2008 NBA Development League Draft

Trio of Tigers Selected in 2008 NBA Development League Draft

Nov. 7, 2008

Former Clemson basketball players James Mays, Vernon Hamilton, and Steve Allen were selected Friday in the 2008 NBA Development League Draft. Mays, a power forward for the Tigers from 2004-08, was the second overall pick of the entire draft by the Colorado 14ers. Hamilton was taken in the third round (39th overall) by the Erie BayHawks. Allen was the 83rd selection, taken in the sixth round by the Albuquerque Thunderbirds.

Sixty former D-League players were on opening night rosters for the start of the 2008-09 NBA season. The teams play 50-game schedules beginning Friday, November 28. The 14ers start the season at Albuquerque, while the BayHawks will face Fort Wayne on opening night.

Mays, a starter the past three seasons for Clemson, appeared in two games with the Denver Nuggets this preseason after competing with the team in training camp. He averaged 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in limited action. The 14ers are affiliated with both the Nuggets and the New Jersey Nets of the NBA. Last season, five players from the Colorado 14ers roster were called up at some point to the NBA.

Mays finished his career with the most steals by a frontcourt player in Clemson history. His total of 166 thefts ranks seventh overall on the school’s all-time list. He averaged 10.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game despite an injury-plagued senior season. Mays was a second-team All-ACC Tournament choice in March after leading the Tigers to the championship game of the conference tournament.

Hamilton was a training camp invite of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The former starting point guard for the Tigers (2003-07) averaged 6.8 minutes played in four NBA preseason games with the Cavaliers. The BayHawks are affiliated with both the Cavaliers and the Philadelphia 76ers.

Hamilton was an All-ACC Defensive Team selection with Clemson in 2005-06 and concluded his career first in school history and sixth in ACC history with 271 steals. Hamilton spent time playing the 2007-08 season with teams in Germany, Turkey, and Latvia.

Allen was a four-year lettermen for the Tigers and averaged 3.1 points per game as a senior in 2005-06. The Florida native earned his degree from Clemson in May of 2006. Allen spent part of the 2007-08 season playing in Portugal.

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