Northwest Notes: Friday, May 8, 2015
Few to coach USA team
at Pan-American Games
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Mark Few of Gonzaga will serve as head coach of the 2015 U.S. Pan American men's basketball team, and Colorado's Tad Boyle and longtime NBA coach Mike Brown were selected as assistant coaches.
The 2015 Pan American Games men's basketball competition will take place July 21-25 in Toronto. The 12-member U.S. team will be comprised of current professionals who are in the NBA Development League or playing overseas, as well as returning collegiate players.
Few, who has been Gonzaga's head coach the past 16 seasons, enters his first USA Basketball head coach position after having served as an assistant coach for the 2012 USA U18 national team, and he was a court coach for the 2009 USA Men's U19 World Championship/World University Games team training camp.
Chiefs pick defenseman first overall in WHL bantam draft
The Spokane Chiefs selected highly touted defenseman Ty Smith with the first overall pick in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft on Thursday morning.
The 5-foot-10, 154-pound Smith, from Lloydminster, Alberta, became the second ever first overall selection by the Chiefs, joining fellow blueliner Jared Cowen (2006). In total, the Chiefs selected 13 players in the draft - seven forwards, four defensemen and two goaltenders.
Smith competed with the Delta Hockey Academy Bantam Prep team in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League during the 2014-15 season. He scored nine goals and 19 assists in 16 regular season games, adding three goals and four assists in four playoff games. During the 2013-14 season, Smith played 33 games with the Lloydminster Heat of the AMBHL, scoring 16 goals and 60 points while adding two goals and 11 points in 11 playoff games.
The list of all 13 players selected by the Chiefs can be seen at www.spokanechiefs.com
Shock land WR Hilton,
play host to Kiss tonight
SPOKANE - The Shock acquired receiver Justin Hilton from the Orlando Predators in trade for future considerations.
Hilton (6-2, 195 pounds, Indiana State) joins the Shock roster for his third season as a member of the Arena Football League after beginning the 2015 season with Orlando. Hilton saw action in two games with the Predators this season and recorded eight receptions for 99 yards and two touchdowns. During the 2014 season with the Tampa Bay Storm, Hilton recorded 38 receptions for 500 yards and 11 touchdowns in five starts. As a rookie with the Storm in 2013, Hilton saw action in two games as he registered five receptions for 95 yards and two scores. During his senior season at Indiana State, Hilton led the Sycamores with 32 catches for 540 yards and four touchdowns.
Also, Shock receiver Braylon Bell has been placed on the Refused to Report list.
The Shock (1-4) host the Los Angeles Kiss (0-6) tonight at 7 (SWX, ESPN 700) at the Spokane Arena.