Off The Glass

Ramon Sessions has season-high 22 points in Cavaliers' loss

Myrtle Beach native Ramon Sessions led the Cleveland Cavaliers with 22 points in Wednesday's 94-89 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats.

Sessions played 31 minutes, well over his average, off the bench. He also had five rebounds and four assists. The Cavaliers were playing without regular starting point guard Mo Williams, who was out with an injury.

Daniel Gibson started at point guard and had 11 points.

Hemingway High alum Dollard playing for PBL's Halifax Rainmen

Hemingway High School alum Josh Dollard, who played in Switzerland last season, is keeping his talents a little closer to home this season.

Dollard is playing this season with the Premier Basketball League's Halifax Rainmen, a team that is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The PBL features teams from both the U.S. and Canada.

Dollard said this team is a better fit for him than the one in Switzerland - mainly because of familiarity.

"I like a lot better than my situation in switzerland," he said. "Well ... [what I like better is] it's NBA rules and style of play with [a] shot clock and rules-wise and I'm [going to] get a better opportunity to showcase my skills more."

Dollard led the Rainmen in scoring in the final exhibition game with 21 points and said he averaged 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks in the four preseason games. The Rainmen open the regular season Sunday.

You can follow Dollard on Twitter at Josh_Dollard3. You can also check up on how he's doing during the season on the team's website: http://www.rainmenbasketball.ca

 

Knicks still have eyes on current Cavalier Ramon Sessions?

It's trade season in the NBA and once again Myrtle Beach native Ramon Sessions' name has come up.

While it's still early and rumors including Sessions are anything but rampant so far, here is the first mention of Sessions' name that I've seen (and it's got a familiar team involved):

According to Hoopsworld.com, Knicks GM Donnie Walsh is still very high on Sessions. The excerpt read:

"The New York Knicks have considered acquiring Sebastian Telfair from the Minnesota Timberwolves, but sources close to the team don't believe a deal is likely. Donnie Walsh prefers several other reserve point guards to Telfair, including Ramon Sessions, and doesn't appear to be in any hurry to make a move."

New York has been a rumored destination of Sessions the last two years, once when he was a restricted free agent two years ago and again this past summer when he was on the trade block. Cleveland, which acquired him in the summer, was high on Sessions but has had trouble finding more than just over 20 minutes a game for him with a roster full of guards. Sessions even had a DNP next to his name is one game this season after a roster shake-up.

At this point it is mere speculation. However, I wouldn't rule anything out when dealing with a team in Cleveland that is desperate to get back into the playoff race after hitting extreme struggles lately. And, keep in mind that Sessions has been a target of the Knicks ever since the D'Antonis have been coaches there.

One way or another I would expect Cleveland to make a move within the next month in a half or so before the trade deadline. The Cavs - who were 4.5 games out of the eighth spot in the East entering Tuesday's action - appear to be at crossroads where they'll have to choose to rebuild or try to get back into the playoff race. Where Sessions fits into either route is unclear.

Update: Coastal Carolina alum Harris talks England, CCU hoops

Coastal Carolina alum Joseph Harris is doing his work on the court. And he's getting the job done.

Harris said he's averaging 20 points and 7 rebounds per game for the Leicester Riders of the British Basketball League.

"I love it - just ball, that's it. No work, no distraction," he said. "Only thng was getting used to the difference in the way refs call the game."

It's overseas, so the refs call touchy fouls, right?

"They let you play actually." Harris said. "[It's] crazy physical."

Overall, he said the team is in fourth place and "moving up each week."

And he hasn't forgotten about his alma mater at all. Coastal Carolina is off to a great start, having wins already over SEC program LSU and another big-conference school in East Carolina.

"It means a lot to me. It shows the type of team and coaches we have to be able to compete year in and year out," Harris said of the Chants. "I follow the guys every game.I feel like I'm out there with them. I want them over the hump and [to] finally get a ring just as bad as I did when I was still out there with them. But all in all I'm so proud. I tell people every day that my school is becoming the next Butler."

Next Butler? Sounds like fun. But getting to the championship game of the Big South awaits first. The Chants have been there, but to be the next Butler they'll have to win the conference first.

Either way, the fan base and national attention is growing. Heck, Coastal's got fans - albeit biased ones - all over the world. And a die-hard one in England.

Coastal Carolina alum Ferguson playing for ABA's San Diego Sol

Coastal Carolina alum Chad Ferguson is playing for the ABA's San Diego Sol this season.

Ferguson played professionally in Mexico last season and is in his second stint with an ABA squad. He played for the San Diego Surf briefly last year before heading to Mexico.

I hope to have more on Ferguson soon.

Links: Video of Socastee's Varga playing pro ball in Denmark

Socastee High graduate Lukas Varga is on winter break from what has been a successful start to his professional basketball career in Denmark. Check out these videos of him playing for Lemvig Basket:

Video 1

Video 2

Video 3

Video 4

 

Socastee alum Lukas Varga having plenty success in Denmark

Perhaps Socastee High School alum Lukas Varga got the gift he wanted most in the summer. And as we approach Christmas the professional point guard is giving his own gifts to the team that he plays for.

Varga said he is averaging 23 points per game and his team, Lemvig Basket, is 9-3, second overall in the first division league at the Christmas break.

"We're on Christmas break for 2 weeks ... I'm in Slovakia now ... we played on Sunday and I got on a flight from Copenhagen to Vienna after the game," Varga said earlier this week.

He said Lemvig Basket is just two games back of the first-place squad. And that has Varga even more pumped.

"We just gotta make the playoffs, he said. "We'll try to beat them in the finals!"

The playoffs are within sight. He said six teams make it, with the top two having a bye.

As for his first year of professional basketball? It appears he is hooked.

"I've been having a good time ... I want to play at a higher level!" Varga said.

Until then, there is work to do.

Hemingway's Taylor, Lewis playing for ABA's Fayetteville Flight

Former Hemingway High School standouts Travis Taylor and Patrick Lewis have joined the Fayetteville (N.C.) Flight, an ABA expansion team, this season.

Taylor, who was in the NBA Development League's draft pool this year, also is leaving his future options open for this season. Nonetheless, he is enjoying the opportunity to play for the Flight.

"It's just a one-year deal ... I'm going to do it until the NBA or D-League calls me or I end up going back overseas. It's cool - the owners COO Trina and CEO Mike Dixon are really nice people. I think they are doing a great job to say this is our inaugural year ... me and him have been speaking since I got back from France last summer. This opportunity will keep me brushed up and ready when that call to the NBA comes or I decide to head back overseas. While I'm here I will continue to show my God-given talents that the Lord Jesus Christ has blessed me with and not only that I will continue to let my light shine in the city of Fayetteville, N.C. or whatever city I'm in."

 

North Myrtle Beach's Ward on Globetrotters' new 4-point shot

North Myrtle Beach native Charles Ward has a unique take on the Harlem Globetrotters' new 4-point shot. After all, he is a former member of the team.

The shot is about 35 feet from the basket and 12 feet deeper than the NBA 3-point line.

"The Globetrotters, awwwww man! Shout out to the Globetrotters for giving guys another avenue to pursue their dreams and still play basketball. I want to thank them again for giving me an oppurtunity - it was a great experience. When I got cut from the NBA they picked me right up, and it was like I was still playing for an NBA team [since] we played in all the NBA arenas and had all the NBA luxuries - parties, money, all the above. The 4-pointer that they have implemented is crazy. They are true innovators [and] I think it's going to bring more excitement and fan fare to their games. It's also going to open more doors for more people, especially sharp-shooters cause you have to be able to shoot to shoot from there. So I'm all for it. I'm still close with a lot of the guys on the Globetrotters, so as long as they are happy I'm happy for them."

Ward is currently with the Dayton (Ohio) Air Strikers, an expansion team of the Premier Basketball League. I'll have more on him and the team soon.

 

Sessions apparently falls out of Cavs' rotation despite good numbers

Wednesday night was a first for Myrtle Beach native Ramon Sessions as a Cavalier: He had a DNP in the box score - DNP as in Did Not Play - and it was listed as the coach's decision.

Sessions has been one of the most consistent Cavs, averaging double figures in points while sharing minutes with fellow rather small guards Mo Williams and Daniel Gibson. Gibson moved into the starting lineup Wednesday night and bench player Manny Harris got the minutes Sessions usually would get. Harris has more size than Sessions - therefore could help defensively - but had just six points in 21 minutes.

The Cavaliers have been in a free fall lately, but it doesn't seem to make a lot of sense in taking minutes away from one of their top offensive weapons. However, that's what has happened - at least for one game so far.

According to the Cavaliers fan website Waitingfornextyear.com, the move was a calculated one by Cleveland coach Byron Scott. The post is interesting and has Scott's comments about the move.

Once again, Sessions - despite playing solid ball - finds himself in a tough situation. But Sessions is a true professional, so don't expect him to complain. Instead, look for him to make the most of the minutes he is able to get - just like he always does.