Post by barrefan1 on Nov 12, 2010 11:24:13 GMT -5
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Staff Report - Published: November 11, 2010
BARRE — The Vermont Frost Heaves re-signed 2010 All-Star Dwuan Rice on Wednesday, marking the third year the star point guard will play for Barre’s Premier Basketball League team.
Rice was among the PBL’s top guards in 2009-2010, earning a Third-Team All-League selection by Usbasket.com
“Returning to Vermont was a no-brainer for me,” Rice said. “This organization has been very good to me, and loyal as well. We have the best fans in the world.Their support and appreciation for what we do made my return an easy one.”
A native of Pasadena, Calif., Rice played at Cal-State Fullerton before signing with the Idaho Stampede of the NBA D-League. The Stampede released Rice in February of 2008, prompting himto join the Frost Heaves. That winterhe helped the Heaves capture a second straight American Basketball Associationchampionship. Rice was named the 2008 ABA Finals MVP, earning him a call back to the Stampede.He proceeded to win a D-League title in Idaho, giving him his second national championship in as many months.
“Dwuan may be the single-most important signing for us of the season,” Salerno. “He is the true definition of a floor general. He is really the engine that made this team go last season.”
Rice averaged 12.5 points per game last year and finished among the league leaders in assists (5.6), steals (1.8) and free-throw percentage (77.4)
“Coach Salerno is an up-and-coming coach with a great basketball mind and tons of passion for the game,” Rice said. “I enjoyed playing and learning from him last season, and I’m excited to get this thing underway. I look forward to being a Heave again and competing for a PBL title.”
The Frost Heaves’ training camp kicks off Dec. 6 in Barre, followed by home-and-away preseason games against the St. John (New Brunswick) Millrats. Vermont will travel to St. John on Dec. 11 and will then host the Millrats on Dec. 19.
The Frost Heaves’ first regular-season game will be on the road at Halifax on Jan. 2. Vermont’s official home openeris slated for Jan. 7 against Lawton Fort-Sill Cavalry, who are the defending league champions.