Sioux Falls Skyforce Training Camp Begins and New Season Awaits
Sixteen players have assembled for the chance to make the Sioux Falls Skyforce opening day roster. The hopefuls arrive from a variety of means.
Five of them have played with the ‘Force either in 2013-14 or in 2014-15. Leading that crew is the talented backcourt twosome of DeAndre Liggins and Tre Kelley who helped lead Sioux Falls to the second round of the playoffs in ’14.
Three other returning players were with last season’s team that fell to Canton in the first round of the postseason with center Byron Mullens returning from injury along with guards Bubu Palo and Rodney McGruder.
The affiliate players are the ones that participated in fall camp with the Miami Heat but did not make the opening night NBA roster. One of them actually has previous Sioux Falls experience.
Keith Benson first played as a rookie in the 2011-12 campaign while wearing the teal colors and was called up by the Golden State Warriors. The next season he was traded to Erie and had a couple of invitations to fall camps with the Atlanta Hawks.
Miami can send a maximum of four affiliate players to Sioux Falls. The other three are guards Corey Hawkins and Briante Weber plus forward Greg Whittington.
Five draft choices are jockeying for their chance led by first rounder Jabril Trawick with Deonta Stocks, Russell Byrd, Deshaunt Walker and Jereal Scott in tow. Finally, two other players who were chosen from the tryouts conducted in Sioux Falls and Miami made the cut as center Nigel Spikes and guard James Johnson round out the candidates.
They will all have to be a quick study for the coaching and front office staff. Rosters need to be set by November 12 and Sioux Falls will entertain the Iowa Energy in game one on Saturday November 14.
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