Halifax Rainmen forward A.J. Millien is reportedly the Harlem Globetrotters’ “prime prospect” for 2009-10.
Millien, the Premier Basketball League’s leading scorer and newcomer of the year in 2009, will be one of 11 invites at a Globetrotters camp on Aug. 11 in New York, according to a report on the website FiveBoroSports.com.
“He is our prime prospect,” Globetrotters general manager James Ryan said in the report. “He has the look of a Globetrotter — he’s long and lean and is very athletic.”
The 6-foot-8 forward came to Halifax at mid-season after averaging a double-double (30.9 points and 12.4 rebounds) with the Augusta Lynx. He was released after a dispute with Lynx ownership and signed as a free agent with the Rainmen, but averaged only 15.5 points and 5.0 rebounds from that point on and saw fewer than 20 minutes per game.
The report said Millien could earn more than US$50,000 per season touring with the Globetrotters.
“I’ve always wanted to be a Globetrotter,” the 26-year-old Millien told the website. “Other than the NBA, it’s the next best thing in terms of fans and exposure.”
RICHARD HEADS OVERSEAS: In other news, former Rainmen fan favourite Kadiri Richard has signed with the British Basketball League’s Worthing Thunder.
The 6-foot-8 forward played for the Rainmen in 2007-08 but joined the PBL’s Wilmington Sea Dawgs last season and averaged 5.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks.
“I anticipate he will lead the league in blocked shots, but he will also rebound at both ends and be hard to stop around the basket,” said Thunder operations director Alan Sweetman-Hicks in yesterday’s edition of the Worthing Herald.
VOIGT TO NBADL? Vermont Frost Heaves head coach Will Voigt is reportedly close to being named head coach of the NBA D-League’s Bakersfield Jam. Voigt told the Burlington Free Press he is working out the “final details” before signing.
