Tag: Texas

Cory Joseph joins Canadian team for FIBA championships

Spurs No. 1 draft pick and former Texas standout point guard Cory Joseph will join the Canadian National Team for the FIBA Americas tournament in Argentina. 

The Toronto Star reports that in the second phase of its training, which will begin Friday at Ryerson University in Toronto.

“It’s an honor to play for your country and I’m excited to get on the floor and represent Canada as best as I can,” Joseph told the Star. “I know we have a young, great group, with Joel (Anthony), (Carl) English and (Andy) Rautins coming in.

“Hopefully we come back with the gold, but if not, qualify for the Olympics.”

Joseph, who averaged 10.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists for Texas last season as a freshman. He was a surprise choice for the second of two Spurs No. 1 draft picks at No. 29 after being pegged by most draft analysts as a likely second-round selection.

The Canadian team will begin its competition with two exhibition games against Belgium later this week. 

The international play can only help Joseph, who will benefit from playing against the international level of talent he will face at the FIBAs. That work should also help him develop as he attempts to earn playing time as a rookie behind Tony Parker at point guard for the Spurs once the lockout ends.

The Spurs need somebody to fill in behind Parker. The trade of George Hill and Chris Quinn’s decision to play in Russia have left them with a void.

Joseph will have a chance for playing time in his rookie season if he’s ready for it.

Acie Law signs with Serbian team, keeps family in groceries

Former Texas AM guard Acie Law apparently will be able to keep feeding his family.

Law has in the Adriatic League, Sportsando.net reports.

After playing at Kimball High School in Dallas, Law was a member of the Aggies for four years and was an All-Big 12 guard in 2007. He then was the 11th pick in the first round by Atlanta in the 2007 NBA Draft.

But he had trouble finding a spot in the NBA, playing for six different teams including stints with Memphis and Golden State in 2010-11.

Earlier this month, Law told ESPN Dallas that he was concerned about if the lockout stretched for an extended period. He had made $7,074,007 in his four-season NBA career.

But those fears about providing for their basic needs should be averted after the deal with the Serbian squad.

George Hill, speeding through the Valley

You’ve got to hand it to now-former Spurs guard George Hill. Despite the fact the Spurs traded him to Indiana on draft night, Hill has kept commitments he made to visit youth camps in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley.

Trips to places like McAllen, Brownsville and Laredo aren’t exactly glamorous, but Hill is making them anyway.

“I wanted to keep my commitments to those kids,” Hill said late last month, “because it’s about more than basketball.”

Hill’s willingness to remain engaged in a community that isn’t really his own anymore is commendable. Unfortunately, it appears Hill might have been in a little too big a hurry to get to Laredo this afternoon to fulfill one of those obligations.

To wit,

Just Got Pulled Over on my way 2 Laredo! But Cop let us go, because he said what I do for the Kids and Fans N that I’ll be missed!

Luckily for Hill, it appears he got away with his bit of errant driving. Let’s be careful out there.