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In the first two years of the Mad Ants’ life, choosing players in the annual NBA Development League draft was pivotal to the team’s success. After all, they had to start somewhere.
Although No. 1 overall choice Larry Turner was a season-long disappointment after the 2007 draft, and last year’s top pick, Coleman Collins, slowly improved as the 2008-09 season played itself out, this year’s draft crop might not be as crucial to the team’s success.
And after two consecutive seasons of finishing in the division cellar, team success could be paramount for the 2009-10 season.
“We’ve got five guys who I think are back with us,” said Jeff Potter, team president and general manager.
“(Ron) Howard, (Chris) Hunter, (Anthony) Kent, (Sean) Sonderleiter and (DeWitt) Scott. I think that’s a pretty solid nucleus – two front-line guys and three guys who know how to play smart.”
In addition, Notre Dame graduates Kyle McAlarney and Ryan Ayers were assigned to the Mad Ants by the NBA D-League as allocated players.
Brandon Cotton, a point guard from the Detroit Mercy, and Jared Carter, a 7-footer from the Kentucky, earned training camp roster spots from local open tryouts.
Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said he talked with Rob Kurz recently, and the former Notre Dame forward said he too could end up playing for the Mad Ants this season.
The Mad Ants will have the 10th pick in the player-pool draft that begins at 7 p.m. Potter and first-year coach Joey Meyer will draft from the team’s annual party at Crazy Pinz Entertainment Center, 1414 Northland Blvd.
Hunter and Howard, both of whom recently cut by the NBA New York Knicks, were the top two scorers for the Mad Ants last season.
Hunter, a 6-foot-11 center, averaged 19.3 points and 9.4 rebounds, and Howard, if he returns to play in his third Mad Ants season, averaged 18.7 points.
Potter said that in recent drafts the team went for big players in the early rounds, but with the chance of getting Hunter, 6-10 Kent and 6-9 Sonderleiter back, the early draft emphasis could be on perimeter players.
“Joey likes a lot of shooters, and I don’t think we’ve had enough of them in the past couple of years,” Potter said.
“That’s an area we’re going to address. We need a (forward) with outside range. I think that’s somebody we’re going to look for.”
Potter added that there are other players of interest, but he wouldn’t tip his hand.
One area to fill is point guard, because Walker Russell Jr., who averaged 10.8 assists last season, is not expected to return.
The Mad Ants open their season at home at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 27 against Erie.
Tony Krausz of The Journal Gazette contributed to this story.
