RealGM’s Player of the Week: Manny Harris (Los Angeles D-Fenders)

Harris had a pair of great performances in wins over the Delaware 87ers this week. He averaged 41 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game on 51 percent shooting and a 50 percent clip from three to earn RealGM’s Player of the Week honors. After spending 20 days with the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this year, Harris returned to the D-League and is the top prospect at the moment. He’s currently the league’s leading scorer and his lengthy, 6-foot-5 frame allows him to excel on the defensive end as well. The shooting guard out of Michigan could contribute in an NBA rotation if a contender is looking for immediate impact off the bench due to injury.

Game of the Week: Rio Grande Valley Vipers 119, Sioux Falls Skyforce 116 (2OT)

Despite trailing by 12 entering the fourth quarter, Rio Grande Valley instrumented a comeback to tie the game and eventually defeat Sioux Falls in double overtime.

The Vipers forced a five second call to receive the final possession of regulation, but Robert Covington’s tough shot was blocked at the buzzer. In the first overtime session, Tre Kelley nailed a three for Sioux Falls with 55 seconds left to give the Skyforce a 111-108 advantage, but after a crucial stop Kevin Parrom answered to tie the game with 26.3 seconds left. Neither team got a good look in their next possessions as the game went into another period.

In double overtime, Kelley hit a three with 1:13 left to give the Skyfoce a 116-113 advantage. Akeem Ellis hit a three on the ensuing possession while Covington received a foul away from the ball that resulted in a free throw. The Vipers took a 117-116 lead and never looked back.

Ellis led the Vipers with a team-high 21 points to go with nine rebounds. Covington (19 points, 11 rebounds) and Tony Bishop (16 points, 10 rebounds) recorded double-doubles while Maalik Wayns added 16 points.

Larry Drew finished with a game-high 22 points and eight assists. The point guard out of UCLA is playing extremely well lately for the Skyforce. Anthony Mason added 21 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists as Henry Walker scored 18 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.

Five Stars

Tiny Gallon (Delaware 87ers): The 6-foot-9 power forward averaged 29.7 points and 14.3 rebounds per game this week on 60 percent shooting. He can be a force inside due to his size and post moves. Gallon has added a mid-range game, but shot 0-of-9 from three this week. He can also limit his turnovers, as he had 16 in three games. Gallon has reportedly received interest from the Knicks among other NBA organizations, per RealGM’s Shams Charania.

Damion James (Texas Legends): James continues to be on a tear since being traded to Texas. This week, the 6-foot-7 small forward averaged 24.7 points and 14.7 rebounds per game while shooting 46 percent from the field and 50 percent (8-of-16) from deep. A 2010 first round selection, James is doing his best to return to the NBA.

Cameron Jones (Santa Cruz Warriors): One of the more complete players in the D-League, Jones averaged 21.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and three assists per game this week while shooting 60 percent from the field and 70 percent (7-of-10) from deep. It was an incredibly efficient week for the 6-foot-4 shooting guard out of Northern Arizona. He’s has a well-rounded game, but has yet to receive a call-up in his third D-League season.

Willie Reed (Springfield Armor): Reed had a double-double in all three of his games this week. The 6-foot-10 power forward averaged 22 points and 13.7 rebounds per game while shooting 60 percent from the field. The St. Louis product is most effective scoring around the rim and using his length to score over defenders. He has some nice moves to face up and attack in addition to his capability to score on the block, but could add a mid-range jumper to help stretch the defense.

Tyshawn Taylor (Maine Red Claws): After a slow start in Maine, Taylor had back-to-back D-League career-highs in the scoring column. He had 23 points (9-12 FG, 1-3 3FG), four assists, and three rebounds on Thursday followed by 33 points (15-20 FG), 15 assists, and eight rebounds on Sunday. The 6-foot-3 point guard was with the Brooklyn Nets to start the year, but was traded to New Orleans before being waived. He’s fighting for another chance in the NBA.

Call-Ups

Jorge Gutierrez (Canton Charge): The former Pac-12 Player of the Year at Cal earned a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets. He spent the preseason in Brooklyn, but was waived prior to the start of the regular season. Gutierrez was averaging 13.9 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game for Canton before earning the call-up. He’s an excellent defender and possesses a high basketball IQ. The 6-foot-3 point guard is the fourth player from Mexico to make it to the NBA and has played 13 minutes in Brooklyn, recording one point and a steal.

Tony Mitchell (Fort Wayne Mad Ants): A two-time D-League Slam Dunk Contest champ, Mitchell earned a 10-day contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. The 6-foot-6 wing out of Alabama was averaging 21.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game for the Mad Ants. Mitchell is a tough scorer who can get to the rim but has struggled with his jumper on occasions. He’s scored two points on 1-of-3 shooting with the Bucks and recorded an assist, rebound, and steal in eight minutes of action.

Reggie Williams (Tulsa 66ers): Williams was averaging 21.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game while shooting 50 percent from the field for the 66ers before being called up to the big league affiliate Oklahoma City Thunder. The 6-foot-6 shooting guard had spent the past four seasons in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors and Charlotte Bobcats but only spent two years with each squad. The crafty lefty can score in an array of ways and should provide some scoring off the bench. He hasn’t logged a minute with the Thunder yet.

And One: Former D-League All-Star Gerald Green has quietly had an impressive season for the Phoenix Suns. He was labeled only as a “dunker” early in his career (for good reason) but used opportunities overseas and in the D-League to develop into a player instead of a prospect. This week, he exploded for 41 points in a win over the Thunder as a symbol of his career season. It took him longer than most, but Green grew into his potential and is averaging 15.7 points per game this season. He’s another one of the many examples of how the D-League can help younger NBA prospects.