Chapter III

Monday, May 11, 2009

TOP 20 AND RISING


May 9 2009
PBN's 2008-09 All-Minors Team
By PBN Newswire
Pro Basketball News
AKRON, Ohio - Pro Basketball News' 2008-09 All-Minors Team was compiled by various sources throughout the minor leagues and PBN. Look for PBN's Top 25 Players list, Top Minors Teams list and list of Top Pro Coaches Not in the NBA coming within the next week.
FIRST TEAM

G-Blake Ahearn
(6-foot-2, 190 pounds), Dakota Wizards - NBADL
G-Keith Friel
(6-4, 190), Rochester Razorsharks - PBL
F-Jermaine Blackburn
(6-7, 210), East Kentucky Miners - CBA
F-DeRon Rutledge (6-6, 240), Southeast Texas Mustangs - ABA
C-Courtney Sims
(6-11, 245), Iowa Energy - NBADL
SECOND TEAM

G-Shawn Fountain
(6-1, 180), Albany Patroons - CBA
G-Will Conroy
(6-2, 195), Albuquerque Thunderbirds - NBADL
F-Albert White
(6-6, 220), Lawton-Fort Sills Cavalry - CBA
F-Erik Daniels
(6-8, 215), Erie BayHawks - NBADL
C-Shawn Daniels
(6-8, 280), Lawton-Fort Sills Cavalry - CBA
THIRD TEAM

G-Tim Pledger
(6-1, 180), Southeast Texas Mustangs - ABA
G-Rashi Johnson
(6-2, 180), Battle Creek Knights - PBL
F-Marcus Williams
(6-7, 210), Austin Toros - NBADL
F-Boris Siakam
(6-8, 215), Kentucky Bisons - ABA
C-Chris Hunter
(6-11, 245), Fort Wayne Mad Ants - NBDL
Honorable Mention

C-Silvester Simple
(6-9, 275), Texas City - ABA
F-Cedric McGinnis
(6-9, 225), Wilmington - PBL
F-Derrick Byars (6-7, 220), Bakersfield - NBADL
F-Josh Davis
(6-8, 240), Colorado - NBADL
F-Desmond Ferguson
(6-6, 220), Manchester - PBL
F-Benson Callier
(6-6, 225), Vermont - PBL
G-Anthony Lumpkin
(6-2, 175), Southeast Texas-ABA
G/F-Elvin Mims (6-5, 215), Lawton-Fort Sills - CBA
F-A.J. Millien
(6-8, 215), Halifax - PBA
G-Issac Burton (6-4, 190), Maywood - ABA
G-Desmond Cambridge
(6-0, 180), Nashville - ABA
F-Rod Nealy
(6-7, 230), Albany - CBA
G-Randy Gill
(6-2, 175), Detroit - PBL
PBN INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
- Keith Friel, 6-4, 190, Rochester RazorSharks (PBL)

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Blake Ahern, 6-2, 190, Dakoa Wizards (NBADL)

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Jermaine Blackburn, 6-7, 210, East Kentucky Miners (CBA)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR -
Derrick Byers, 6-7, 220, Bakersfield Jam (NBADL)
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR -
A.J. Millien, 6-8, 215, Halifax Rainmen (PBL)
COACH OF THE YEAR -
Steve Tucker, Southeast Texas Mustangs (ABA)

MY THOUGHTS

ON THE RIDE HOME FROM MOTHERS DAY DINNER WITH FAMILY YESTERDAY, I RECEIVED THE NEWS FROM MY BROTHER THAT MY NAME WAS MENTIONED IN A LIST OF TOP 25 MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

COMING FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, THIS IS A GREAT TIME OF RECOLLECTION OF ALL THE TIME SPENT AT THE GYM SOAKED WITH SWEAT FROM WORKING OUT. I HAVE FLASHBACKS OF SPENDING A SUMMER IN MY BROTHERS DODGE JUST FOR THE CHANCE TO WORKOUT WITH THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS. IM HEARING THE ECHOES OF PEOPLE WHO DOUBTED I COULD EVER PLAY THIS GAME. IT REMINDS ME TO NEVER QUIT, NO MATTER HOW MUCH ADVERSITY IS IN FRONT OF ME. FOR THIS HONORABLE MENTION ACKNOWLEDGMENT BY THE PBN, AN EFFORTLESS HEAD NOD FOR THE BASKETBALL GODS, I PAID A GREAT COST.

DONT THINK THAT I HAVE REACHED THE MOUNTAIN TOP YET! NO, IM NOT HAPPY WITH MY RANKING OF HONORABLE MENTION AND IT SHOWS ME I HAVE A LOT MORE SWEATY DAYS, AND PLENTY MORE SLEEPING IN THE CAR NIGHTS AHEAD OF ME. NOW THAT I LOOK BACK ON THE EXPERIENCES THAT LED TO THIS HONORABLE ACKNOWLEDGMENT, IT WAS ALL WORTH IT. I ALSO CANT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT MY TEAMMATES AND COACHING STAFF FOR THE VERMONT FROST HEAVES, THEY REALLY DO THINGS TOP SHELF THERE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL THE FANS IN VERMONT AND AROUND THE GLOBE WHO CHECKS UP ON ME FROM TIME TO TIME. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO CONGRATULATE BORIS ON MAKING THE THIRD TEAM AND SHAWN FOR MAKING THE SECOND TEAM. THIS IS BENSON CALLIER, PRO WINGS JOURNAL SIGNING OWT!!!!

http://www.probasketballnews.com/story/?storyid=435

Sunday, May 10, 2009

CALLIER MAKES TOP USA PLAYER LIST

PROBASKETBALLNEWS.COM

TOP 25 PLAYERS WHO IS'NT IN THE NBA


BENSON CALLIER SHAUWN FOUNTAIN BORIS SIAKAM