Keeping focus on the positive
By BRYAN STRICKLAND : The Herald-Sunbstrickland@heraldsun.com
Aug 10, 2008
DURHAM -- Duke and North Carolina basketball tickets can be hard to come by, and NBA games are out of reach in more ways than one for many area basketball fans.
But for most of the summer, fans have been able to see Duke, UNC, N.C. State and even NBA players all at the same time with a ticket price that anyone can afford.
"It's free," said Donyell Bryant, one of the founders of the S.J.G. Greater NC Pro-Am summer basketball league that's winding down with its postseason tournament this weekend at McLendon-McDougal Gymnasium on the N.C. Central campus. "Things are so expensive these days. It's great to see parents coming out with their kids.
"We're just trying to bring some positive things back to the area."
In Saturday's quarterfinal round, former Southern High and UNC standout David Noel helped Team Noel advance to today's semifinals with a 79-65 victory over Team KG, and Duke sophomore Nolan Smith helped the RDU Barnstormers advance against a Black Magic team featuring several NCCU players by a 65-59 count.
In the late games, Jerry Stackhouse (12 points) and the Regulators fell 65-63 to Team Felton, which got 19 points from former UNC player Jawad Williams, and N.C. State player Brandon Costner scored 25 points to lead Team Williams to a 67-62 victory over E-Net.
The semifinals are set for 4 and 5 p.m. today, with the title game slated for Monday night around 7:30 p.m., following an exhibition of wheelchair basketball.
"I think it's been great," said Noel, who scored 14 points Saturday. "We've had great turnouts, with a lot of kids here.
"The grown folks are cool too, but it's more important for the kids to come out and see us guys playing competitive basketball."
Noel was an NBA rookie with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2006-07 and played for the Bucks' NBA Development League team in Tulsa last season before being released. He played then some in Spain and is now working out in the area in hopes of landing back in the NBA next season.
"It's great to play in something like this twice a week, between your workouts," Noel said. "It's definitely been good for me."
Smith is one of several Blue Devils to compete on and off during the summer. Returning teammates Gerald Henderson, Kyle Singler and Lance Thomas also have taken part, as have all three of Duke's incoming freshmen -- Elliot Williams, Olek Czyz and Miles Plumlee.
"It's good competition," said Smith, who scored 14 points Saturday. "It's fun going up against the Carolina guys."
Current UNC player Danny Green and incoming freshman Ed Davis have played, and the group of players with NBA experience has included Stackhouse, Antawn Jamison, J.J. Hickson and Josh Powell.
Stackhouse is the player responsible for getting the league off the ground. He, Bryant and Chuck Jones grew up together in Kinston and had been talking about doing something like this for years.
With a big helping hand from NCCU's basketball program, their dream has become a reality.
Bryant estimated that nearly a thousand fans showed up the first week, and since they've typically drawn anywhere from 1,500 to 2,200 fans. He's hoping for a big crowd today and perhaps a full house Monday night.
"We all grew up together, and we all thought this would be something positive for the community," Bryant said. "I think it's gone real well. It's been a blessing to have this support from the community.
"We're already thinking about next year. Hopefully it will be bigger and better."