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2008 SPDL
Sacramento Professional Basketball
League
Monday, June 2 through Thursday, June 26
All-Star Game on Friday, June 27 |
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What is the Sacramento Pro Developmental League (SPDL)?
The SPDL is one of the premier
stages for professional basketball players to showcase their talents and
abilities. The league has enabled many players to
further develop their skills helping them fulfill their dreams of reaching
the highest level of professional basketball. The program has two focuses:
to prepare players for NBA summer camps and allow them to develop their
conditioning and skills in a structured competitive environment. The SPDL
offers a unique developmental program designed to help players continue to
learn and improve in the off-season, by focusing on all aspects of the game.
Guss Armstead has worked with and helped develop players such as Kevin
Martin of the Kings, Bobby
Jackson of the Hornets, Matt Barnes of the Warriors, Troy Hudson of the Timberwolves, Jason Hart of the
Clippers, Mike Wilks of the Sonics and many
more.
Exposure
Scouts, coaches and player management firms from all around the
globe regularly scout the league for outstanding prospects. NBA stars
participate in front of sell out crowds.
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Who plays in the SPDL?
Many NBA players have played previously in the Sacramento Professional
Developmental League: NBA Stars Jason Hart of the Clippers, Mike Bibby of the Sacramento Kings, Bobby
Jackson of the Hornets, Kevin Martin of the Sacramento Kings and Matt
Barnes of the Warriors.
Some or our past International and Minor League superstars include:
NBDL's Phil Ricci and Quemont Greer, NBADL's Gerry McNamarra and Joe Shipp, David Jackson (Idaho - CBA),
and Jamaal Tatum. Many more expect to play this summer.
How to get in the game…
If you received an official invitation it is because we feel
that you have the talent to play professionally. The SPDL is an invite only
league. Act quickly if you are interested, as this will be limited to 25 of the
top players. Invited players must submit their application and non-refundable
$300 fee. Please fill out the application and send it in promptly,
or sign up on line.
If you have any questions,
email for info.
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Ex-Cordova star shines against basketball elite
It may have been just six basketball games. But those games did a lot for
Zach Andrews' confidence. The former Cordova High School and Yuba
College standout participated in the Sacramento Professional Development
League at Capital Christian High School and discovered he can play with the
best. Considered one of the best summer leagues in the country, the
SPDL helps regional high school, college and pro players, past and present,
hone their skills during the offseason.
Andrews was no exception. Of course he was happy to average 18 points and
10 rebounds, according to his calculations. But he was astonished he was
able to do it against established college and pro players such as former
Sheldon High standout and current Duke player DeMarcus Nelson, ex-Del Campo
star and ex-Philadelphia 76er Matt Barnes and Kings players Bobby Jackson,
Mike Bibby and Kevin Martin.
"I was real surprised to see how my game has elevated," he said. "Playing
in the summer league gave me a barometer of where my game is at this point
in time." Andrews attributes his success to SPDL teammate Jackson, who
offered plenty of encouragement along the way.
"Bobby really taught me a lot," Andrews said. "He helped me understand
the importance of work ethic and staying motivated. He told me if I
maintained those two things, I would have a chance to make it."
If the past is any indication, Andrews has a promising future. The
6-foot-8, 220-pound Andrews was named to the All-Northern California
Community College first team in April. He was also named the 2003 Optimist
Game's Most Valuable Player. Andrews earned a scholarship to play next
season at Bradley University, which is coached by former Kings player and
Monarchs assistant coach Jim Les. Andrews is currently on campus in Peoria,
Ill., working out with the team and preparing for the fall semester.
"My goal for this season is to help the team win," he said. "Whatever
coach wants me to do, I'm willing to do it. I'm all about winning."
Marty Mac's World: He's just what these basketball players need...
The Sacramento Professional Developmental League
is many things to many people.
Around these parts, it's a summer showcase
for the area's best players to play in a controlled setting and be pushed by
legitimate competition. It's a proving ground and educational platform for
the young and up-and-coming.
And to quite a few players, it's often the
nightcap of a day-night doubleheader. You can find quite a few of the same
hoopers who play in the evenings at Capital Christian High School in the
league playing at Basketball Town under the direction of skills coach
Guss Armstead.
Armstead, who also doubles as a pseudo-drill
sergeant, has full-court games going alongside each other that last five
minutes or the first team to seven.
The winning team on the main court stays and
is challenged by the winner from the other court. Armstead is the coach for
both squads, calling out play sets and calling fouls that are not
acknowledged on the floor.
The games are competitive and often feature
players who are earning money playing professionally somewhere. Or it could
be DeMarcus Nelson, who will go back to Duke this fall but is not
permitted to play in the Developmental League because he already has played
at his school.
Playing in the league are Ryan Anderson,
formerly of Oak Ridge, who will begin playing for Cal in the fall; former
Kennedy High star Zack Graves, who is heading to Montana; and
Kevin Galloway, who is headed to USC from Sacramento High.
After the games, players run the dreaded 17s,
sprinting across the court 17 times in less than a minute. It's pretty much
the last thing you want to do after playing, but anybody who is getting up
to play ball at 9 a.m. daily is fairly serious about honing the craft. |
Staying sharp in the summer. A developmental league lures several Kings players.
That Matt Barnes and Bobby Jackson will be playing Monday night in the opening
game of the Sacramento Professional Developmental League at Capital Christian
Center is not surprising.
That Mike Bibby and Eddie House are expected to join them is a
first for the league organized and run by local basketball guru Guss Armstead.
Professional summer leagues are somewhat famous for their surprise participants
(and no-shows) on any given night, and this one is no different.
"One thing I'm happy about this year is some of the Kings who
are around town like Mike and Eddie have said they were going to play," said
Armstead, who played at Sacramento State and in the league when it was known as
the Pro-Am, and has run it for more than a decade. "Guys like Matt and Bobby
have been so supportive of the league, as have the Kings organization and Dr.
Ronald Blanchette, who have sponsored teams every year."
In addition to providing competition during the summer for
players who love the game, the league is designed to help players improve in a
controlled environment.
"What we're trying to do is get the guys who have professional
aspirations," Armstead said. "And there are a lot of different levels at which
you can earn money playing basketball. So just as this is a good thing for the
NBA guys, it's good thing for a guy like (former Grant High and Sacramento State
star) Jameel Pugh, who is trying to get a look from an NBA team, or (Galt's)
Phil Ricci, who didn't make the NBA this past season but had a good year playing
in Spain."
Read entire article.
Anderson, Thomas step it up in basketball league
... Two local high school basketball stars are among the chosen few that are
lacing them up this week as play begins in the 21st annual Sacramento
Professional Developmental League.
Folsom High's Kyle Thomas and Oak Ridge High's Ryan Anderson are two of only a
handful of elite high school basketball players that will compete head-to-head
with an impressive group of pro and college basketball players in the SPDL.
Notable NBA players expected to participate include Mike Bibby, Kevin Martin,
and Ronnie Price (Kings), Bobby Jackson (Grizzlies, free agent), and home-grown
Matt Barnes (Sixers, free agent). All but Price competed in the SPDL last
summer. Although not listed on any official team's roster, the Kings' Shareef
Abdur-Rahim has also expressed interest in playing in a few SPDL games. Other
top players from professional leagues in Europe and Asia are sprinkled across
the rosters of the four league teams.
Make no mistake that the SPDL is a league composed of many highly-skilled
players.
Read Article
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