Sammy Mejia of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants was today named D-League.com Performer of the Week for games played during the week of Dec. 24.  In three games this week, Mejia averaged 31.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists while shooting 32-of-56 (.571) from the field and 28-of-35 (.800) from the free throw line.

Selected 57th overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2007 NBA Draft, Mejia scored 41 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out three assists and collected three blocks against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Friday, Dec. 28.  In two other games for the Mad Ants this week, Mejia scored 26 and 28 points, respectively.  

A product of DePaul University, the 6-6 guard played his first game for the Mad Ants on Dec. 22 after missing the beginning of the season due to an injury.  Mejia played with the Pistons in their training camp and was one of the last players cut prior to the start of the NBA season.  In four D-League games, Mejia is averaging 27.3 points and 7.3 rebounds.  

Other top performers in the D-League last week included Idaho?s Randy Livingston who averaged 17.3 points and 14.0 assists in three games, including a D-League record 22 assists on Wednesday, Dec. 26; Iowa?s Dwayne Mitchell, who averaged 24.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in three games for the Energy; DJ Strawberry, who averaged 32.0 points in two games on assignment with Albuquerque from the Phoenix Suns; Rio Grande Valley?s Kenny Taylor, who finished the week averaging 30.0 points while netting ten three-point field goals in two games for the Vipers; and C.J. Watson, who averaged 31.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists in two games for Rio Grande Valley.

The San Antonio Spurs today signed Keith Langford who had been playing with the team's NBA Development League affiliate Austin Toros.

In nine games with the D-League team this season the 6'4" guard was averaging 23.2 points while shooting .530 from the field. He also grabbed 6.3 rebounds and dished out 3.4 assists per game.

Langford, who played four years at Kansas, had one other stint in the D-League, with Fort Worth in 2005-06. In 46 regular season games he averaged 11.5 points, and in two postseason games he scored 25 points a game and grabbed six rebounds as the Flyers were defeated in the Finals by the Albuquerque Thunderbirds.

Langford is the second player in the past two days that the Spurs have signed from the Toros. On Dec. 26, the defending NBA champs acquired forward Marcus Williams, a former second-round selection by the Spurs in the 2007 NBA Draft. Williams also played nine games with the Toros and averaged 18.1 points per game.

The Bakersfield Jam today announced that Head Coach Jim Harrick will be stepping down due to personal reasons following the team's game Dec. 29 against the Los Angeles D-Fenders.

Sean Rooks, the team's assistant coach and a veteran of 12 NBA seasons as a player, will take over the reins as interim head coach. His first test will come on Jan. 4 when the team visits the Utah Flash.

Harrick posted a 19-31 record last season, but the team finished strong, recording a 6-2 mark to close the campaign. This year the Jam currently stand at 3-14.

"It is with great sorrow that I relieve myself of coaching duties with the Bakersfield Jam," said Harrick. "I'd like to thank the ownership group and entire organization for the opportunity to help bring such a high level of basketball to the people of Kern County. Despite our slow start this season, I am confident the team is heading in the right direction, and my only regret is not finishing the job I started."

Harrick's distinguished coaching career spans five decades and includes a national championship won at UCLA, a national coach of the year award, three Pac-10 titles, an Atlantic 10 tournament championship and five West Coast Athletic Championships.

The native of Charleston, West Virginia, began his collegiate head coaching career at Pepperdine University in 1979 where he led the school to four NCAA Tournament appearances. In 1988 Harrick replaced Walt Hazzard at UCLA and won the national championship seven seasons later. He then went on to lead Rhode Island from 1997-99 and Georgia from 1999-2003. After his tenure with the Bulldogs, he retired from coaching and worked as a college basketball analyst.

"We're sad to see a man with such a great coaching pedigree and ambassador to the sport leave the Jam. Of course, we respect his decision and will provide any support he needs throughout his future endeavors," said Jam majority owner Stan Ellis.

Rooks, 38 began his NBA playing career after starring at Arizona. He was the third selection in the second round of the 1992 draft by the Dallas Mavericks, the team with which he spent his first two seasons. The 6-10 former center also had stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Hornets, and Orlando Magic. He posted career averages of 6.2 points and 3.8 rebounds.

The Jam has already embarked on a search for Harrick?s permanent replacement with Rooks  as one of the potential candidates. Harrick has agreed to assist the team in their search in any way needed.

Morris Almond of the Utah Flash today was named D-League.com Performer of the Week for games played during the week of Dec. 17.  In two games, Morris averaged 43.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals while shooting 32-of-68 (.471) from the field.  

A first-round selection in the 2007 NBA Draft (25th overall) by the Utah Jazz, Almond tied Clay Tucker?s D-League regular season record on Dec. 21 when he scored 51 points in a win over the Austin Toros.  The following night, Morris netted 36 points and nine rebounds as the Flash defeated the Bakersfield Jam for their second win of the week.

A product of Rice University, Almond, a 6-6 guard, was assigned to the Flash on Dec. 6 and leads the D-League with 32.0 points along with 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists during six games in the D-League.  Prior to his assignment, Almond appeared in four NBA games for the Jazz.  

Other top performers in the D-League last week included Colorado?s Elton Brown, who averaged 24.0 points and 12.8 rebounds in four games; Taurean Green who finished the week with Idaho averaging 23.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 12.0 assists during a two-game assignment from Portland;  Rio Grande Valley?s Gabe Muoneke who averaged 28.0 points, 9.0 rebounds in two games for the Vipers; Carlos Powell who finished the week averaging 31.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists in two wins with Dakota; and C.J. Watson who averaged 31.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 9.5 assists in two games with Rio Grande Valley.

Morris Almond tied the NBA Development League scoring record, pouring in 51 points to lift the Utah Flash to a 118-116 overtime victory over the Austin Toros on Friday at the McKay Events Center.

?It all came in the flow of the game.? Almond said of his record-tying offensive performance. ?I am just happy to be able to get some minutes and contribute. Everybody contributed to this win.?

Alando Tucker of the Albuquerque Thunderbirds today was named D-League.com Performer of the Week for games played during the week of Dec. 10.  In two games, Tucker averaged 36.0 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 27-of-52 (.519) from the field.

Tucker, a Thunderbird by way of assignment from the Phoenix Suns, scored 40 points and grabbed eight rebounds during a Dec. 14 victory over the Bakersfield Jam.  His 40-point performance tied the D-League best for the season.  Tucker came out the next night, Dec. 15, to score 32 points and pull down five rebounds in a win over the Anaheim Arsenal.    

A 6-6 forward from Wisconsin, Tucker was selected 29th overall by the Suns in the 2007 NBA Draft.  In five games since being assigned on Nov. 29, he is averaging 28.2 points (tied for second in the D-League) and 7.0 rebounds.  A first-team All-American and the 2006-07 Big Ten Player of the Year, Tucker averaged 6.0 points in two games with the Suns before his assignment to the Thunderbirds.

The Chicago Bulls announced today the team has recalled rookie guard JamesOn Curry from the Iowa Energy of the D-League.

Curry (6-3, 190) was assigned to the Energy on Nov. 15 and in his nine games with the D-League affiliate he averaged 21.9 ppg (10th in the D-League), 5.8 apg (eighth in D-League), 3.6 rpg and 1.00 spg in 41.4 mpg (sixth in D-League). He shot .473 from the field, including .378 from three-point range, and .774 from the free throw line.

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have recalled Darius Washington from the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League.

Washington was signed by the Spurs on October 1. He appeared in 15 games with the Silver and Black, averaging 2.8 points and 1.1 rebounds while shooting .485 from the field, prior to his assignment to the Toros on November 29.

The Idaho Stampede announced Tuesday the acquisition of forward/guard Luke Jackson.  Jackson, who will wear jersey number 9, is expected to be available for Idaho?s game against the Sioux Falls Skyforce in Boise Tuesday night.  

No stranger to Idaho, Jackson averaged 14.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 23 games for the Stampede and earned two call-ups (L.A. Clippers, Toronto Raptors) during the 2006-07 season. During a combined 13 games with the Clippers and Raptors, Jackson averaged 3.7 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 10.6 minutes per game.

"We are excited to have Luke back," said Stampede Head Coach Bryan Gates. "Anytime you can have a player of his caliber, you have to jump on it."

The Idaho Stampede today announced the acquisition of forward/guard Luke Jackson.  Jackson, who will wear jersey number 9, is expected to be available for Idaho?s game against the Sioux Falls Skyforce in Boise Tuesday night.

No stranger to Idaho, Jackson averaged 14.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 23 games for the Stampede and earned two GATORADE Call-Ups (L.A. Clippers, Toronto Raptors) during the 2006-07 season.  During a combined 13 games with the Clippers and Raptors, Jackson averaged 3.7 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 10.6 minutes per game.

"We are excited to have Luke back," said Stampede Head Coach Bryan Gates. "Anytime you can have a player of his caliber, you have to jump on it."

A member of the 2007-08 Raptors' preseason roster, Jackson, 6-foot-7, 215 pounds, appeared in five exhibition games and averaged 2.6 points and 1.1 rebounds in 8.5 minutes including seven points in nine minutes against the Washington Wizards on Oct. 26.  

A first-round selection (10th overall) by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2004 NBA Draft, Jackson played two seasons with Cleveland, averaging 2.7 points and 1.0 rebounds in 46 appearances and holds career averages of 2.9 points and 8.4 minutes during 59 games in the NBA.