Where are U Now?

May 6, 2011

By: Oliver Berens

There are 12 Hurricanes playing professional basketball in 2010-11, with two Canes in the NBA, eight playing overseas and two in the NBA Development League. Let’s take a look at how they are doing.

John Salmons and James Jones have each had successful careers in the NBA. Salmons, who played at UM from 1998-2002, has played for four different teams over the course of nine seasons. The past two seasons he has played for the Milwaukee Bucks, and averaged 14 points a game while starting 70 of the 73 games he played this year. Salmons has a career average of 10.1 points per game and has reached the playoffs four different times. In the playoffs, he has a career average of 11.2 points an outing.

Jones, who played at UM from 1999-2003, has played for four different teams over the course of eight seasons. For the past three seasons, he has played for his hometown Miami Heat, averaging 5.9 points per game in 81 appearances this year, while also winning the 2011 NBA three-point contest. Jones has a career average of 6.3 points per game and has reached the playoffs in six of his eight years. Jones, who has a career playoff average of 5.5 points per game, has been a huge contributor off the bench for the Heat in this year’s playoffs. He is averaging 9.0 points per game, including a career-high 25 points in game one of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against Boston. That performance also marks the most points by a Heat player coming off the bench in a playoff game.

Brian Asbury (2005-09) has put together an impressive season in Israel playing with the Hapoel Usishkin Tel-Aviv. In 31 games this year, Asbury is putting up 27.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. On March 15 against Hapoel Afula, Asbury scored a career-high 43 points in a 107-77 victory.

James Dews (2006-10) had a successful start in Israel with Ironi Nahariya. In 10 games this year, Dews averaged 17.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. On Nov. 9, Dews scored a career-high 26 points in the team’s 118-104 victory over Lev Hasharon.

Gary Hamilton (2002-06) is having a good year in Japan with the Shiga Lakestars. In 51 games, he has scored 12.9 points per game, while averaging an incredible 15.2 rebounds. Hamilton has played a key role in many games, including  his 23-point, 20-rebound performance against the Toyama Grouses in a 74-72 victory. Although the big man is not known for his free throw shooting, he went 7-7 from the line that game.

Anthony Harris (2003-07) recently finished his first year in the NBA Development League. He played for the Sioux Falls Skyforce for most of the year and then finished with the Utah Flash, putting together a combined 11.8 scoring average in 41 games. He scored a career-high 30 points versus the Bakersfield Jam on January 16.

Rob Hite (2002-06) played in 12 games with the Miami Heat in 2006, but has since played overseas in Israel and now in France for the Limoges. In his tenure with the Heat, Hite averaged 4.3 points per game. In 16 games with Hapoel Holon earlier this season, Hite averaged 15.9 points per game. Since then, Hite joined Limoges in France, where he has averaged 15.1 points per game in 12 appearances.

Lance Hurdle (2007-09) has played with three different teams in the NBA Development League, and has averaged 9.9 points per game over his professional career. Last season, Hurdle played for two teams. He played most of the season with the Idaho Stampede, averaging 10.9 points in 36 games. Late in the season, Hurdle got traded to the Springfield Armor where he put together 13.3 points per game.

Anthony King (2003-06, 2007-08) is having a successful basketball career overseas. He has played an instrumental role in the success of Etha Engomis of Cyprus this season, averaging 14.3 points and 10.0 rebounds in 16 games.

Jack McClinton (2006-09) is also playing in Israel with Galil Gilboa. In 28 games this season, McClinton is averaging 8.2 points in over 24 minutes per game. McClinton played a key role in the team’s 93-91 win over Hapoel Holon, scoring 16 points and going 4-of-5 from the three-point line.

Cyrus McGowan (2008-10) spent last season in Turkey with Akhisar Belediye. In six games, McGowan average 11.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, including a career-high 21 points in the team’s 72-66 victory over Hacettepe.

Darius Rice (2000-04) is playing in Puerto Rico with San German. In six games this past season, he averaged 10.3 points and 6 rebounds per game, while shooting 88.9 percent from the line.