Forward Kasib Powell has been named the NBA Development League?s Most Valuable Player for the 2007-08 season. Powell, who returned to Sioux Falls on April 3, following a 10-day stint with the Miami Heat, was selected by a vote of the D-League?s head coaches.
Before Powell?s GATORADE Call-Up to the Heat on March 22, Powell was leading the Skyforce with 22.3 points per game, shooting 50 percent from the field and 43 percent from three-point territory, to go with 5.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists. Sioux Falls was 23 -16 with Powell in the lineup prior to his Call-Up to the Heat. Since returning from Miami, Kasib played in one game for the Skyforce, scoring 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
?Kasib has had an outstanding season and is truly deserving of such a prestigious award,? said Skyforce Head Coach Nate Tibbetts. ?In addition to his exceptional skill on the basketball court, he is a class act off the court. Our organization was thrilled when he earned his first career NBA call-up a few weeks ago and winning the D-League MVP award will only help him reach his goal of being a full-time NBA player."
A 2008 All-Star, Powell scored in double-figures in 37 of 38 games for the Skyforce, including 24 games with 20 or more points, three 30-point outings, and a 46-point performance on March 6 against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. Additionally, Powell has recorded five double-double (points/rebounds) games during the season, including his first-ever game in a Skyforce jersey ? a 20-point, 12-rebound night on Dec. 9.
Twice honored during the season for his standout play, Powell earned D-League.com Performer of the Week honors for the week of Feb. 18, when he averaged 27.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in two games, including 37 points in a win over the Iowa Energy. Later that month, Powell was named D-League Co-Player of the Month for February, as he averaged 22.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists, as Sioux Falls went 8-3 during the month.
Powell has seen training camp and preseason action with the Memphis Grizzlies, Indiana Pacers, and Orlando Magic since finishing his career at Texas Tech. In his final season as a Red Raider in 2003, Powell averaged 14.8 points 6.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 33 games as he led his team to the semi-final round of the NIT tournament. For his efforts, Powell earned All-Big 12 Conference Honorable Mention accolades.
?Kasib has enjoyed a terrific season this year,? said Chris Alpert, the Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel for the D-League. ?Not only is he a tremendous scoring threat, but he also draws the assignment of guarding the opposing team's best players. He welcomes those challenges and he has been a big reason for Sioux Falls' success this year. His competitiveness, improved outside shooting, defensive prowess, and knowledge of the game make him one of the top NBA prospects in our League.
Powell joins Ansu Sesay (Greenville, 2002), current Cleveland Cavalier Devin Brown (Fayetteville, 2003), Tierre Brown (Charleston, 2004), current Charlotte Bobcat Matt Carroll (Roanoke, 2005), Marcus Fizer (Austin, 2006) and Randy Livingston (Idaho, 2007) as winners of the NBA Development League Most Valuable Player Award.