The Halifax Rainmen have not yet sent a player to the NBA, but they have high hopes for Jason Henry.
The six-foot-six forward from Cincinnati, Ohio, was among the 15 players introduced to fans at the Rainmen’s media day at Citadel High School yesterday. He will try out for a contract when training camp opens today in Yarmouth.
Henry, a cousin of Raptors small forward Sonny Weems, averaged 8.0 points and 4.4 rebounds as an NCAA Division I freshman with the Arkansas Razorbacks last season.
“I talked to a few NBA scouts and they think he can play in the NBA as early as next year,” said Rainmen owner Andre Levingston. “He’s an amazing player. He’s very, very talented. I think we can find a home for him.”
Guard Adris DeLeon was another newcomer. He’s spent the past two seasons playing NCAA Division I at Eastern Washington and averaged 12.5 points in 2007-08.
“He’s an assassin,” Levingston raved. “He’s known in New York by the nickname ‘too hard to guard.’”
Guard/forward Omar Weaver, who was selected sixth overall in the Premier Basketball League draft and is already signed, did not report yesterday because of paperwork issues. Tryout guard Kendel Provet also didn’t show up.
“We hope we can get those guys here,” Levingston said.
Eight signed players will head to Yarmouth along with seven unsigned players trying out for contracts. The small-town environment will be quite a jolt.
“Everybody on our team is from the big city,” said third-year forward Eric Crookshank. “It’s going to be very interesting to see what they think when they get there.”
