Slam re-sign four from 2006-07 ABA squad

FEBRUARY 18, 2008

Slam re-sign four from 2006-07 ABA squad

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The Bellingham Slam may be playing in a new league, but the team will feature several familiar faces as four players who starred with the team during its tenure in the American Basketball Association have been re-signed for the Slam’s first season in the International Basketball League.

Veterans Brian Dennis, Brandon Hartley, and Jacob and Jared Stevenson are the first four players to be re-signed for the 2008 season. The Slam begin the season on the road against the Snohomish County Explosion on March 8, with the team’s home opener scheduled for March 28 against the Tacoma Jazz.

Dennis, 27, started nearly every game at center for the Slam during the team’s two seasons in the ABA. Last season he led the team in field goal shooting (61.3 percent), rebounds (11.0 per game), and blocked shots (3.3 per game). Dennis, a four-year starter at Western Washington, still holds the PacWest/Great Northwest Athletic Conference record for career field goal percentage at 62.2 percent.

Hartley, 26, was the Slam’s third-leading scorer during the 2006-07 season with 20.7 points per game. Hartley scored a career high 35 points on Dec. 17, 2006 against King County. Last summer, Hartley played in the World Basketball Association, helping the Mayas-USA team win the league championship. Prior to joining the Slam, Harley starred at Saint Martin’s College and currently ranks seventh among GNAC career scoring leaders.

Jacob Stevenson, 27, started every game at the shooting guard position for the Slam last season, and was the teams second leading scorer with 21.4 points per game. The Bellingham native and former Western Washington standout scored a career-high 41 points against Fresno on Dec. 13, 2006 and was also the team’s most accurate free throw shooter, sinking 81.7 percent of his shots from the line.

Jared Stevenson, 30, appeared with the Slam last season in a reserve role at point guard. He averaged 9.3 points per game and proved to be one of the Slam’s most accurate long-range shooters, connecting on 39.2 percent of his three-point shots. His career high came during the Slam’s first season, when he notched 22 points against Tim Hardaway’s Florida Pit Bulls on Feb. 19, 2006.

Season tickets for the Slam’s home schedule are currently on sale, and single game tickets will go on sale March 1. For more information, contact the Slam at (360) 734-SLAM or visit their website at www.bellinghamslam.com.