SPORTS SECTION E
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017
NFL Picks
Week 4, Page 3
‘Buddy Buckets’ in position battle By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net ne of the immediate takeaways from Sacramento Kings training camp has been the depth on the wing. With several players capable of playing the shooting guard spot, presumed incumbent starter Buddy Hield could find himself in a position battle over the course of the week-long camp and the preseason, according to Kings head coach Dave Joerger. Hield, seven-year veteran Garrett Temple, 20-year veteran Vince Carter and newcomer Bogdan Bogdanovic are all listed at the shooting guard spot. Minutes at the position are also expected to be shared between second-year wing Malachi Richardson, rookie Justin Jackson and veteran combo guard George Hill. “Bogdan, this is my first opportunity to see him so I’m looking forward to that. Obviously, I know what Garret can do, and then having Buddy for half of a season, there are three guys there competing for two spots there,” Joerger said. “Everybody goes out there and plays with a pure heart, gets better every day and we’ll figure it out from there. We also may want to slide George Hill over there and play some shooting guard, more so for De’ Aaron Fox to continue to develop.” Hield started 18 of 25 games last year since the midseason trade to the Kings. During his tenure he averaged 15.1 points,
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SACRAMENTO Kings’ (from left) De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Skal Labissiere stand on the sideline yesterday during a drill at the NBA team’s training camp in Sacramento, California. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) 4.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 2.4 three-pointers made and 2.1 turnovers per game with the Kings. He shot 48 per cent from the field, 43 per cent from threepoint territory, 81 per cent from the foul line and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Temple was limited to 65 games but started 21 of those contests, many of which came before Hield joined the roster.
“We’re competing for jobs and guys are going to bring their all. It’s not going to come easy. You want to compete hard and earn your spot, that’s what we’re here for. Someone’s going to win it and I’m planning on being a guy that’s going to win a spot out here,” Hield said. “The past month I’ve been working, gone full tilt. I had a busy summer, did a lot of work but I’ve
been working and grinding and getting better. I’m excited to play against these guys and learn and compete, see how far they can test you and just be better.” Joerger said the team’s depth will be an asset as the season goes on but is just one of the themes in training camp this week. “It helps, as rosters change throughout the course of the season, in game you make quick decisions and
Bahamians standouts on the European basketball circuit By RENALDO DORSETT Tribune Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net BAHAMIANS have tipped off in preseason tournaments on the European basketball circuit and have had immediate impacts with their respective clubs. Waltiea Rolle in the Turkish Women’s Basketball League and Juraun “Kino” Burrows in the French Basketball’s Pro B Division both posted standout performances. Just days after she signed with her new club, Rolle was named the game’s MVP on day two of the TKBL Federation Cup. She finished with 25 points, 15 rebounds and two blocked shots to lead Edremit Gure Belediyespor to a 69-65 win over Bayrakli Belediyespor. The TKBL is the top women’s basketball league in Turkey and will play its 37th season this year. The 6’6” centre and University of North Carolina product last played with Haskovo 2012 in the Bulgaria’s NBL league where she averaged 13.9 points and 12.3 rebounds per game in the 2016 season. In her previous season, she played with Nymburk, of the Czech Republic’s ZBL League in 2015, where she averaged 16.3 points and 10.4 rebounds in 31 games. In her first stint with Haskovo 2012 in 2014, she led the club in several statistical categories. Through 20 games and 27.3 minutes per game on the court, she shot .504 from the field and .783 from the three throw line for an average of 14.1 points per game. Rolle also averaged 9.2 rebounds and 1.95 blocks. Burrows helped FOS Provence Basket to an opening day win in the French Basketball’s Pro B Division’s Leaders Cup. He finished with 15 points and eight rebounds in a first-round win over Saint-Charmond. In the first phase of the Leaders Cup format, all 18 Pro B teams are divided into groups of three teams. After that teams play in a knock-out system with double legs in the quarter- and semi-finals.
Following a late-season stint and playoff run with FOS Provence Basket, Burrows agreed to a contract extension to return to the club this season. In 12 games last season, Burrows averaged 10.7 points, four rebounds and three assists in just over 25 minutes per game en route to the league’s semi-finals. Provence finished the regular season ranked No.2 in the league with a record of 22-12.
WALTIEA ROLLE (top) and Juraun “Kino” Burrows are currently playing in the Turkish Women’s Basketball League and French Basketball’s Pro B Division respectively.
you can get the results in 12 seconds, but you also have to make decisions on which direction your team is going that can go on for two months so it does take time,” he said. “How do you play all of these guys, how you decide which ones to play and which ones to sit. We’re just asking our guys, I’m going to give you a role, but your role can change. There may be times when I grab a guy and I have to tell him, I’m going to have to keep you out tonight and get a look at some other guys, I might have to do that for two weeks at a time and we also know that injuries happen so to be able to make that pivot or if a guy beats a guy out it changes things.” Sacramento will open the preseason at home against the San Antonio Spurs on October 2 and they travel to face the Spurs on the road just days later on October 6. They get their first opportunity for a back-to-back when they face the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trailblazers on October 8-9 respectively. Those games are followed by a matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers October 12 and the preseason concludes October 13 against the defending champion Golden State Warriors. The Kings open the regular season Wednesday, October 18 against the Houston Rockets. “It’s not so much about the Xs and Os so much as it is about how we go about our business,” Joerger said. “What we do want to be about now? What do we want to be about four months from now? What do we want to be about three years from now? That needs to be the same so that there’s consistency.”
FREEDOM FARM FALL BALL SEASON NOW OPEN THE Freedom Farm Fall Ball season is officially open. Freedom Farm is a non-profit baseball club geared at developing children’s baseball skills, as well as teaching them unity through teamwork. Arawak Homes, the lead sponsor for Freedom Farm’s Fall Ball season, recently visited the players on the field to offer words of encouragement to the players this season. “Arawak Homes is very pleased to sponsor an event like this because what we’re doing is giving back to young men like yourselves and I know that you work hard all season,” said Arawak Homes’ VP of Sales, Dena Ingraham. “I want to encourage you to do your best. The things you do on the field today also helps you when you go inside the classroom. It makes you more of a team player in whatever you do. I just want to again encourage you to continue to do your best.” Mrs Ingraham also commended the coaches on the “great” job they are doing, as well as the parents and grandparents who continue to support the young men of Freedom Farm. Senior director at Freedom Farm, Clarence “CJ” McKenzie, said the Fall Ball season has four age divisions with all players going into new divisions. “In the 9-10 division, that division will be played with players who are 8 going in to the 9-10 division for the first time. So, the idea is to get their feet wet and give them the exposure because it will be the first time they will be playing at that level,” he said. “[The players] would have gained the confidence and essential fundamentals to compete in the upcoming season.” Freedom Farm’s Fall Ball season lasts for six weeks and ends with an awards ceremony. The games are open to the public free of charge. Games are held every Friday and Saturday.