Off The Glass

Update: Simmons to double up in NBA summer league action

Cedric Simmons

West Brunswick (N.C.) High School graduate Cedric Simmons is again trying to make it back to the NBA. And he's putting in overtime in trying to make it happen.

Simmons will be playing with the Minnesota Timberwolves' summer league team from July 9-18 in Las Vegas, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune. According to several other reports, Simmons will play on the Philadelphia 76ers' summer league team in the Orlando Pro Summer League from July 5-9 before heading to Vegas.

Simmons, who played collegiately at N.C. State, last competed in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings in 2008 and just last season was playing  in the NBA Development League before heading over to China.

Simmons, still just 24 years old, is 6-foot-9 with a 7-4 wingspan. He was drafted with the 14th pick of the NBA draft in 2006 by the New Orleans Hornets. He has also played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls in a career that has yet to take off.

If Simmons was to make the Timberwolves' roster, he would join fellow Grand Strand native Ramon Sessions, who is heading into his second season with the team.

NBA draft signals jockeying of position for many with area ties

MCT file photo

Thursday night's NBA draft officially got the NBA offseason under way. And, of course, it could be the most significant offseason in NBA history.

Aside from the plight of LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, etc., there will be plenty other moves going on. And many of them will involve players from the area, state or state colleges.

To name a few:

Myrtle Beach native Ramon Sessions: The Minnesota Timberwolves point guard likely will stay put after Spain's Ricky Rubio decided to put off coming over for another year, but who knows? Few saw him signing in Minnesota until the day it happened last summer.

Myrtle Beach summertime resident Raymond Felton: The Bobcats appear to want to bring the free agent guard back, but they said the same thing last season before signing him to a one-year tender. From reports, it sounded like Felton wasn't very happy with the breakdown of contract talks last year, so his fate is up in the air.

Former Socastee High coach Dan D'Antoni: The New York Knicks assistant coach likely will be coaching a new superstar next season. When the dominos begin to fall, D'Antoni could wind up coaching the likes of a LeBron James, Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh. The Knicks have the cap room, but can they lure the biggest fish?

West Brunswick (N.C.) High grad Cedric Simmons: Simmons could pop up in an NBA summer league after playing partly in the D-League and in China last season. He has NBA experience and is still fairly young and has potential with his size.

Florence native Carlos Powell: An NBA Development League All-Star last season before going to play in China, Powell likely will again try the NBA route. Last summer he impressed while playing for the Phoenix Suns in the summer league and preseason.

Hemingway High alum Josh Dollard: The former Auburn and USC-Aiken standout who played last year in Switzerland was eligible for the NBA draft but said earlier this week it was more likely he would land in the D-League. He is working to get a new agent and is pretty confident he'll land there via the NBDL draft or by signing as a free agent.

Georgetown native Brendon Knox: Fresh off his last season at Auburn, it's possible the D-League could be an option for Knox. Check back for details later.

Clemson alum Vernon Hamilton: The former NBA guard told me recently he expects to give the NBA summer league another go. He said one team was already showing interest. Don't be surprised if he's back in an NBA camp after playing overseas last season.

USC alum Tre Kelley: The guard was in the Oklahoma City Thunder's camp last year before being cut. He also went overseas and likely will give the NBA another shot.

USC alum Tarence Kinsey: The guard was overseas this past season, but likely will try to revitalize his NBA career this summer.

I'm sure I'm missing some guys here, but those were the ones on the top of my head. Jockeying for overseas jobs isn't too far off either.

It's officially basketball offseason.

Hemingway alum Dollard eligible for NBA draft; NBDL more likely

Submitted photo                                       

Former Hemingway High School standout Josh Dollard has his sights set on landing in the NBA Development League this summer.

Dollard, who played last season in Switzerland after leaving USC-Aiken with one year of eligibility left, is eligible for Thursday's NBA Draft but said he is more likely to land in the NBDL this summer. Dollard said he also could wind up in the NBA's summer league. Much of that will become more clear after the draft, he said.

Dollard, who has traveled an uncommon path since being dismissed from Auburn for undisclosed reasons after two successful years at the school, said he is in the process of getting a new agent to help his chances at eventually fulfilling his dream of making it to the NBA.

Dollard, a 6-foot-7 forward, is chasing a path three players from the area have recently gone after. Myrtle Beach native Ramon Sessions was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks but spent plenty of time in the NBDL before cementing his spot in the NBA. West Brunswick (N.C.) High grad Cedric Simmons has played in the NBDL off and on the last couple years after stints with several NBA teams. Florence native Carlos Powell played in the NBA summer league with the Phoenix Suns last year and was a D-League All-Star before deciding to finish the season in China.

Myrtle Beach High alum Hemingway putting on adult hoops tourney

The Sun News file photo

Former Myrtle Beach High School basketball standout Akeem Hemingway is putting on an adult basketball tournament on July 2-3 at Myrtle Beach High School.

The tournament, PJB Productions Presents the First Annual Akeem Hemingway Battle of the DJs Men's League Basketball Tournament, already has eight teams signed up and is looking for more.

Here are the details:

When | 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (both days) July 2-3
Where | Myrtle Beach High School
Cost | $250 per team
Format | Seed play on July 2, with teams playing multiple games; bracket play July 3 that is based on game scores
Contact for more information or to sign up | Akeem Hemingway, 843-602-70-71

Coastal Carolina alum Ferguson weighing options for next season

       Submitted photo        

Former Coastal Carolina basketball player Chad Ferguson is in Leon, Mexico, playing in a showcase tournament in which he said has scouts from teams in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela amongst other South American countries.

Ferguson played last season in Mexico's CIBACopa league. The near-7-footer said he has been in discussions with a team from Lithuania and has already received an offer from a team in Mexico's LNBP, the country's top league.

Ferguson will be playing in a Euro summer league starting July 9. He said so far he is intrigued the most by the team from Lithuania, but there is still a lot of playing to do before signing for next season.

Ferguson said he has a new agent and it is paying dividends. He said he's excited about the possibilities.

"I've just got to keep playing hard and moving forward ... stay focused," Ferguson said.

What is growing more: Soccer over here or basketball over there?

MCT file photo

The World Cup kicks off Friday, arguably the event of all events when it comes to the sports world - the sports world that reaches beyond us in the United States.

The question that comes up every time a big-time international soccer event - especially the Cup - is about to start is about the growth of the sport in the United States. The answer is usually the same: growth, but we're still not even close to the rest of the world.

I've got a question that goes in the other direction. Shall I call the reversal the Dream Team effect?

When the United States had to settle for a bronze medal in the 2004 Olympic Games it became a national tragedy. We heard about how the world was catching up to the U.S. in basketball. Since then, we've again proved ourselves. But complacency in basketball is unwise on the national stage.

So, which is moving faster: the U.S. in soccer prowess or the world in hoops prowess. I think it's an obvious answer. Basketball is growing at a faster pace all over the world than soccer is growing in the U.S. That's not necessarily a bad thing. It just tells us something about ourselves and who we are.

We are the world leader in basketball. American basketball players are all over the world and are often treated like royalty. And there now are many great players from all over the world in the NBA. It shows the health of the sport. It only makes it better.

Such is the same in the soccer world. The growth in the U.S. may not get to where the some want it to be, but it is relevant and shows the importance of the sport.

I've never been a soccer fan. But I've always respected it. I've always loved basketball. But these two sports have a lot in common.

Both are sports that you can play for many years, even if you are not a pro. Both are sports people all over the globe care about. And both are taken very seriously on a global level.

I'll be rooting for the U.S. even if I don't tune in for many games. But it's a great event and the growth of sports across the globe only makes them better.

You've got to love Steve Nash. He gives us the best of both worlds.

Let the games begin!

Several players in this year's NBA Finals have links to Carolinas

The Associated Press photo

Boston's Kevin Garnett is a South Carolina native. He was born in Greenville.

Believe it or not, there are many players in the NBA Finals who have links to the Carolinas. Check out the eight players with links to either South Carolina or North Carolina below (and feel free to enlighten me if there were any that I missed!):

Boston Celtics

Kevin Garnett - Born in Greenville, S.C., and played high school basketball at Mauldin before transferring to a school in Chicago for his senior season.

Ray Allen - Led Hillcrest High School (S.C.) to a state championship.

Marquis Daniels - Played in high school for Mt. Zion Christian Academy in Durham, N.C.

Rasheed Wallace - Played in college at North Carolina.

Shelden Williams - Played in college at Duke.

Los Angeles Lakers

Josh Powell - Born in Charleston, S.C., and played in college at N.C. State.

Kobe Bryant - Was originally drafted by the Charlotte Hornets before he was traded to the Lakers.

Adam Morrison - Was drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats.

It's official: Rubio staying in Spain, meaning Sessions likely to stay put

MCT photo

Spanish star point guard Ricky Rubio told The Associated Press on Friday that he will stay with Barcelona and will not play in the NBA until the 2011-12 season.

The non-move makes it highly unlikely Myrtle Beach native Ramon Sessions will be traded this summer, which was rumored to be what would have happened soon after if Rubio had joined the Minnesota Timberwolves, who selected him with the fifth pick in the 2009 NBA draft.

If Rubio had come over, the Timberwolves would have had three legitimate point guards - starter Jonny Flynn, Rubio and Sessions. It was logical that if Rubio joined the team that one would be moved, most likely Sessions, who signed a 4-year, $16 million contract with the Wolves last summer.

Friday's news likely allows Sessions a summer to relax mentally, especially considering the stressful summer of negotiations he had to deal with last year while an unrestricted free agent. Sessions now can narrow his focus to challenging Flynn for the starting point guard job this fall. He said in April that he was led to believe by the team that the position would be an open battle.

Check out the story on the Minnesota Star Tribune's website here to see what people there are saying about the story.

Dates for Sessions' basketball camp set; check back for more details

                     TSN file photo by Steve Jessmore            

Ramon Sessions (white shirt) speaks at cousin Akeem Hemingway's camp.

Myrtle Beach native and current Minnesota Timberwolve Ramon Sessions' annual basketball camp at Myrtle Beach High School is set for July 12-15, according to Seahawks alum and Sessions confidant Trello Galloway, who has been a team member in past camps.

Sessions' camp has been a big draw the last couple years. He has already visited the beach this spring when his cousin, Akeem Hemingway, had his inaugural camp.

I will post details for the camp as soon as I get them. Stay posted.

S.C.'s all-time leading prep scorer, UNC alum Latta MIA in WNBA

McConnells, S.C., native Ivory Latta is nowhere to be found nearly a month into the WNBA season.

Latta, who played at North Carolina after becoming South Carolina's all-time leading prep scorer - including both boys and girls - was cut by the Tulsa Shock in the middle of May and has not resurfaced in the league.

Just two years ago Latta was considered a rising star with the Atlanta Dream, whom she averaged 11.4 points per game while starting 31 of 34 contests in 2008. In 2009, Latta was cut and then later re-signed by Atlanta while playing in a reserve role.

Latta was an All-Star in January while playing in the Turkish Women's Basketball League during the offseason.