Basketball Team Reports As School Year Gets Underway
Sept. 2, 2008
MILWAUKEE - The 2008-09 school year officially started Tuesday on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and with it the UWM men's basketball team officially opened preparations for its upcoming season. Teams are allowed to do a combination of conditioning and basketball-related workouts over the next seven weeks before practice can begin over the weekend of Oct. 17-19. Roster Notes As expected, three players have been added to the roster, and all will be walk-ons this season. Avery Smith makes his return to the Panthers' roster after missing the 2007-08 campaign. Smith was a preseason all-league selection a year ago before being dropped from the roster in early November. Joining Smith as additions to the roster are James Dean of Las Vegas, Nev., and Jerard Ajami of Madison, Wis. Dean comes to Milwaukee after playing this past season at Hargrove Military Academy. He hails from Las Vegas, Nev., where he played basketball at Las Vegas Centennial, averaging 16.5 points per game as a senior. Ajami joins the Panthers after spending the past two seasons at Northern Michigan University. Last season at NMU, Ajami averaged 12.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. While a prep star in Madison, he helped Madison Memorial to the 2005 WIAA Division I state title. As a transfer, Ajami will have to sit out the 2008-09 season and then would have two years of eligibility remaining. These three join a group of seven other newcomers for the 2008-09 season. James Eayrs, Tone Boyle and Burleigh Porte each come to Milwaukee from the junior college ranks while Riley Walker, Tony Meier, Ryan Haggerty and Patrick Souter each wrapped up their high school careers earlier this year.
Helping With The Move-In UWM men's basketball players continue to make efforts to play an active role on campus and in the community, with the latest efforts involving an appearance during the move-in to Sandburg Hall Friday. Head coach Rob Jeter, staff and players pitched in as new students arrived on campus to move into the dorms. The team's involvement in the opening week of school continues Friday night at Panther Fest, where players and coaches will meet and greet student, faculty, staff and alumni in attendance for the annual kickoff event at the Summerfest grounds. Schedule Close To Completion The latest note to add to details of the schedule that have already been released is the full schedule for the World Vision Classic in Ames, Iowa. UWM will open with Loyola Marymount Friday before facing UC Davis Saturday and the host Cyclones Sunday. Staffing Updates |
