On the same day he received the news that he would not be signed by the Philadelphia 76ers for the remainder of the season and was instead being released by the club, former USC basketball center Dewayne Dedmon also got news that he had been named to the NBA Developmental League's All-Star Game.
Dedmon was one of 20 players, who have played in at least half an NBA D-League squad's games this season, selected for the All-Star Game that will take place Saturday, February 15 during the NBA All-Star weekend's Jam Session.
The rosters, which include five players currently in the NBA, were selected by the NBA D-League head coaches and divided into "Prospects" and "Futures" squads by League officials.
To be eligible for the game, the players will have to be on an active D-League roster at the time of the NBA D-League All-Star Game.
Dewayne Dedmon has played in 15 games with the Santa Cruz Warriors between stints with the Golden State Warriors and Sixers. WIth Santa Cruz, Dedmon is averaging 15.2 points and is leading the D-League with 13.5 rebounds per game. He also was in the developmental league's top 10 in blocked shots per game, swatting 2.3 per game prior to his call-up with Philadelphia.
There are multiple players on the rosters with Los Angeles ties, including current Los Angeles Lakers Manny Harris and Malcolm Thomas as well as former Laker Devin Ebanks. Former Fresno State forward Melvin Ely was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers and former Arizona State stars Ike Diogu also previously spent time with the Clippers.
Also making the NBA D-League All-Star Game roster was Othyus Jeffers, who was shot in the leg defending his sister while he was in college at Robert Morris, but didn't even stay overnight at the hospital after getting treatment. Instead Jeffers went home, used crutches for only three days and was back on the basketball court in less than a month.
Now there's a guy, along with former Trojan Dewayne Dedmon, you have to root for!