September 30, 2010

Former Bull Brian Addison Signs with the Harlem Globetrotters

PHOENIX, AZ – Former University at Buffalo men's basketball player Brian Addison has signed with the legendary Harlem Globetrotters. A season after playing for the rival Washington Generals, Addison is one of six new players that have joined Globetrotter veterans for the team's annual training camp in New York in preparation for the Globetrotters' 85^th season of touring the world.

The rookie class is led by 6-8 dunking phenom Brent "Thunder" Petway of the University of Michigan, selected in the Globetrotters' first ever draft in 2007. Petway, a native of McDonough, Ga., was a second place finisher in the 2007 college Slam Dunk Championship and played two seasons in the NBA Development League. Sporting a 42-inch vertical leap, Petway was the Wolverine's second-leading rebounder and shot blocker as a senior, and more than half of his career field goals at Michigan were via dunks.

"It takes a special player to be a Harlem Globetrotter, as one needs not only outstanding basketball skills, but showmanship and the ability to touch lives all over the world on and off the court," said Sweet Lou Dunbar, legendary Globetrotters showman and the team's director of player personnel. "We feel we have another strong rookie class with that potential."

The other rookies at training camp in New York are:

Woodell "Woody" Payne, a native of Inkster, Mich. The 5-11 University of Detroit Michigan product was the Horizon League Co-Defensive Player of the Year this past season, finishing in the top 20 in the nation in steals. Payne was also an outstanding high jumper and long jumper in high school.
Eric "Hacksaw" Hall, a 6-8 shot blocking machine from Greensboro, N.C., who finished his Radford University (Va.) career fifth on the all-time blocked shots list, with nearly 100.
Garry "Bingo" Beverly. The 6-8, Philadelphia, Pa., native led Clark Atlanta University in rebounding and blocked shots in the 2008-09 season and was the team's second leading scorer.
Kirk "Zeus" Stewart of Queens, N.Y., a 6-7 powerhouse that was an All-East Coast Conference honoree during his two years as a starter at the New York Institute of Technology.
Brian "Slingshot" Addison, a long and lean 6-9 dunker hailing from Queens, N.Y., who was a member of two regional championship teams at Monroe Community College in Rochester, N.Y., and played his last two collegiate seasons at the University at Buffalo.

These players join Globetrotter stars Big Easy Lofton, Flight Time Lang, Special K Daley, Scooter Christensen, Ant Atkinson, Handles Franklin, Dizzy Grant and many others as the Globetrotters prepare for their 2011 World Tour. Training camp, which tipped of Sept. 26, breaks on Oct. 7, with the Globetrotters embarking on tours of Europe and Mexico.

Sponsored by Campbell Soup Company, Spalding, Howard Johnson Hotels and America's Best Contacts and Eyeglasses, the Original Harlem Globetrotters will celebrate their 85^th consecutive season in 2011, reaching unprecedented heights with never before seen innovations in the game. The Globetrotters will perform over 270 shows in North America from Dec. 26, 2010, through mid-April 2011, showcasing the wholesome family entertainment that has provided lifetime memories for generations of fans.

The full North American tour schedule will be released in the fall. To find out when the Globetrotters will bring their spectacular show to a city near you, and to purchase tickets, visit www.harlemglobetrotters.com.