More about the Deveroes leagueTHE ENQUIRER
Drew LavenderFans can get a preview of the Xavier junior point guard, who sat out last season after transferring from Oklahoma. Lavender, who played at Columbus Brookhaven High, is a former McDonald's All-American. Lavender is expected to play with Xavier junior Stanley Burrell on OHC. Lavender played for the Sooners two years and averaged 9.7 points, 3.2 assists and 1.6 steals in 28 minutes a game during the 2004-05 season. As a senior at Brookhaven, Lavender averaged 18.4 points, 10.7 assists and 4.0 steals and led the squad to a 29-2 record and No. 25 national ranking. "I think his level of quickness and how he makes plays for his teammates (will stand out for fans)," Xavier assistant Chris Mack said.
Big man on campusJames Cripe, who was the first 7-footer in the Atlantic 10 when he played at Dayton, has transferred to Northern Kentucky University.
Farewell to Woodward's old gymIt's the final season for the "Blue Palace." Next season, the league will play at Woodward's new, air-conditioned gym. The Blue Palace is known for its humidity during the summer. Jack Jennings, who plays for John H. Flessa Law Office, said it can get up to 110 degrees during games. "You just suck it up, and you bring a lot of water," he said.
A fourth title on the horizon?John H. Flessa Law Office defeated Stan Litz Law Office 110-94 in last season's championship. It was the third time in four seasons that Flessa claimed the regular-season and postseason titles. Flessa won postseason titles in 2002, 2004 and 2005. "They keep the same nucleus of guys," league director Dennis Bettis said. "It's their chance to play the college guys."
COLLEGE CONNECTIONSLocal college stars, past and present, dot Deveroes rosters. The following players have committed to playing in the Deveroes Summer League, according to league director Dennis Bettis. The rosters are subject to change and are not official until after the second game.
Cincinnati:Ronald Allen and Cedric McGowan, Domonic Tilford, Abdul Herrera, Timmy Crowell, Marvin Gentry, Marcus Sikes, Deonte Vaughn, Jamaal Warren, Mike Williams and John Williamson
Xavier: Justin Doellman and Justin Cage, Johnny Wolf and Josh Duncan; Drew Lavender and Stanley Burrell, Derrick Brown, Adrion Graves, Jason Love, B.J. Raymond, Adam Simons and C.J. Anderson
Miami:Doug Penno and Monty St. Clair Antonio Ballard, Mike Bramos, Devin Davis, Isaiah Carson, Adam Fletcher, Damon Frierson, Tyler Dierkers, Alex Moosmann, Steve Pogue, Carl Richburg, Dwain Williams
Northern Kentucky:James Cripe, Anthony Teague and Steven Wright, Scott Bibbins, Billy Finnell, Mark Hawkins, Vincent Humphrey, David Jefferson, Mike Kimmey, David McFarland, Harrison Morton, Travis Rasso, Kevin Schappell
Miami (Fla.):
James Dews
Dayton:
Norman Plummer, Brian Roberts
DEFENDING CHAMPSIt has played under different names in recent seasons, but the John H. Flessa Law Office team has won three of the past four regular-season and postseason titles. It is believed to be the most titles in league history. "For them, it's a personal challenge," league director Dennis Bettis said. John H. Flessa defeated Stan Litz Law Office 110-94 in last year's championship game. Three players - forwards Jack Jennings and David Shelton, and point guard Steve Stewart - have played together during that span. "Basically, we have the same core of guys or we might add one or two," said Jennings, a Western Kentucky standout from 1990-92 and Holmes High product. "We just take pride and want to go out and win. If we are down 10 points with two minutes, we still think we can win." Former UC standout Eric Hicks was part of last year's championship. Jennings hopes Hicks will play again. Former UC stars Damon Flint and Art Long also have played with the team.
HIGH-SCHOOLEDHigh school players are allowed to participate in the league, but few underclassmen actually have. Most aren't physically ready, league director Dennis Bettis said. Ralph Lee, one of the league's co-founders and a point guard at Xavier from 1982-86, said he would like to see North College Hill standouts O.J. Mayo and Bill Walker participate. Bettis said there isn't a specific policy regarding high school players, but he added he wouldn't want Mayo or Walker to play on just a part-time basis. Bettis said he'd like to see the two keep playing their AAU schedule during the summer. Former UC standout Terry Nelson said the league should accept only prep standouts who are "potential major Division I prospects." "A lot of them are unskilled - they can dunk and do other things, but if they get picked, they won't hustle back," Nelson said. Two prep standouts from this past season are Hughes' Adrion Graves (Xavier) and Lakota East's James Dews (Miami, Fla.). Both have committed to play this summer before starting college.
LOCATIONSThis is the third summer Woodward has hosted the league since it moved from Oak Hills in 2004. Next year, games will be at Woodward's new, air-conditioned gym. Woodward hosted games for the first three years of the league, which was formed in 1986. Games then alternated between Purcell Marian and Woodward. The league moved to Purcell full time in the early 1990s. The league then moved to Oak Hills' auxiliary gym for four years (2000-03). It returned to Woodward in 2004. Bettis said Woodward is a good location and convenient for players traveling on I-75, he said. The league had a setback in 2004. Because of a miscommunication, Division I players weren't certified by the NCAA to participate. "The lack of an opportunity - that the college players couldn't (participate) - that was disappointing," Bettis said. "But I knew we would get the certification back." Bettis said players never wavered in their support for the league. And that's enough for those who compete, former UC player Terry Nelson said. "Guys take this league seriously," Nelson said. "For the street legends, this is their NBA season."
NBA ALUMNICorie Blount, Tony Bobbitt, Torraye Braggs, Lionel Chalmers, Damon Flint, Brian Grant, Erik Daniels, Danny Fortson, Ron Harper, Michael Hawkins, Tyrone Hill, Brandon Hunter, Kennard Johnson, Stan Kimbrough, Steve Logan, Art Long, Kenyon Martin, Pete Mikeal, Ira Newble, Ruben Patterson, James Posey, Lorenzo Romar, Romain Sato, Kenny Satterfield, Larry Sykes, Louis Orr, Nick Van Exel.
OTHER NOTEWORTHY PLAYERS EXPECTEDDevin Davis, Billy Edwards, Robert Hite, Jack Jennings, Melvin Levett, Walt McBride, Paul McMillian, Eric Taylor, Keith Waleskowski, Damon Flint, Danny Horace.
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