Vipers Reshuffle Roster
Monday, January 24, 2011 at 11:54PM MCALLEN, TEXAS – The defending NBA DevelopmentLeague champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers announced Monday that their parentclub, the Houston Rockets have recalled point guard Ishmael Smith (6-0, 175, Wake Forest), and that the Vipers haveacquired center Connor Atchley(6-10, 225, Texas) from the Iowa Energy for power forward Stanley Robinson (6-9, 210, UConn), who was re-acquired earlier inthe day.
The Vipers have also waived center Mickell Gladness (6-11, 212, AlabamaA&M).
Assigned on January 17, Smith played in fourgames (one start) with the Vipers, averaging 12.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, 7.0assists and 1.8 steals in 31.8 minutes per game. He shot 43.1% (22-for-51) fromthe field, 30% (3-for-10) from behind the arc and 50% (4-for-8) from the foulline. He scored a career-high 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting against the MaineRed Claws on January 19 and finished by dishing out a career-high 10 assists togo with a career-high three steals against the Dakota Wizards on January 22.
“Ishmaelhad an effective stay with the Vipers as he was able to continue hisdevelopment in games. There is nothing like a game setting for a young pointguard to continue to work on his craft, especially in terms of running a teamand being an initiator on defense. We were able to take advantage of a keystretch of Vipers games for him to participate in and look forward to the nextperiod where he can come back down and continue his work with our Viperscoaches,” said Vipers General Manager Gersson Rosas, who is also the RocketsVice President of Player Personnel.
Smith is averaging 3.1 points, 1.5 rebounds, 2.4assists and 12.9 minutes in 24 games (three starts) for the Rockets.
Atchley is averaging 5.2 points, 3.5 rebounds,1.0 blocks and 17.1 minutes in 19 games (13 starts). He is shooting 43.6%(34-for-78) from the field and 87.1% (27-for-31) from the free throw line. Hescored a season-high 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting in 27 minutes vs. Sioux Fallson December 1. Atchley is in his second year in the NBA Development League. Hesplit last season between Dakota and Iowa, averaging 6.5 points and 3.8rebounds in 41 games (13 starts). For his career, Atchley is averaging 6.1points 3.7 rebounds and 16.5 minutes in 60 games (26 starts).
Atchley’s best play came in the playoffs withthe Energy last year, when he averaged 10.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocksin six games and starts.
“Connor isa versatile big that fits our style of play with his shooting and size, whichhelp address some of our team needs. He is a guy we would like to get a closerlook at in our environment and we are glad to add him to our team. We feel likehe has an opportunity to come in and get better by working with our coaches inorder to help our team,” Rosas said.
Atchley played for the Sacramento Kings duringNBA Training Camp, scoring two points, while hitting 1-of-3 shots, with threerebounds (two offensive) in eight minutes over the course of three games.Atchley played for the Kings during the NBA Summer Leauge in Las Vegas,averaging 3.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. He also played for the NewJersey Nets during the Orlando Pro Summer League, averaging 7.6 points, 4.2rebounds and 22.2 minutes per game. Atchley also played for the Golden StateWarriors during the 2009 NBA Summer League and then in Turkey before joiningthe NBA Development League.
Atchley’s best season with the Longhorns came asa junior during the 2007-08 season, when he averaged 9.5 points, 5.3 reboundsand a Big 12-best 2.1 blocks per game. He was named to the Big 12 All-DefensiveTeam, the Big 12 All-Improved team and the Academic All-Big 12 First Team.
The 23-year old was born in Houston and grew upin Clear Lake.
Robinson averaged 9.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and10.3 minutes in three games off the bench before getting waived due to a rightleg injury on December 16.
Gladness averaged 3.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and1.1 blocks in 19 games (six starts).
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. College
10 Terrel Harris SF 6-5 190 Oklahoma State
11 Jerel McNeal SG 6-3 200 Marquette
15 Patrick Sullivan PF 6-9 215 S.E. Louisiana
18 Matt Janning SG 6-4 198 Northeastern
21 Richard Roby SG 6-6 210 Colorado
23 Stanley Asumnu SF 6-5 220 Tennessee
32 Mouhammad Faye PF 6-9 215 SMU
34 Connor Atchley C 6-10 225 Texas
50 Jeff Adrien C 6-7 245 UConn
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