Thursday, November 03, 2011

MACON, GA. – Former ETSU and Atlantic Sun Conference standouts Courtney Pigram and Justin Tubbs were selected in the NBA Developmental League draft on Thursday evening.

The Idaho Stampede picked Pigram in the fifth round, while Tubbs went to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the eighth round. Tubbs was also one of 18 players selected in the draft that participated earlier this year at the Boost Mobile NBA D-League National Tryouts that were held in Chicago, Louisville and Los Angeles.

Pigram, a Memphis native, earned Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year honors in 2006-07 and was a member of ETSU teams that participated in the NIT in 2007 and the NCAA Tournament in 2009. During his time at ETSU, Pigram scored 2,043 points and ultimately finished third on the Bucs’ all-time scoring list.

Tubbs, from Trussville, Ala., spent two seasons in Johnson City after transferring from the University of Alabama. His athleticism and ability as a shooter made an immediate impact as he helped the Bucs to the NCAA Tournament in 2010 and the CollegeInsider.com Tournament in 2011. Known as a high-flying, athletic guard throughout his career at ETSU, Tubbs was featured twice on ESPN during the 2010-11 season for his acrobatic dunks.

Complete rosters for each of the 16 2011-12 NBA D-League teams will be comprised of the players drafted on Thursday, along with returning, affiliated and local tryout players. Rosters will be reduced from 17 players to opening-day 10-man rosters by Nov. 23 in anticipation of the Nov. 25 tip off of the NBA D-League’s 11th season. For more, visit http://www.nba.com/dleague/

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an NCAA Division I league with 10 member institutions committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun meets the challenge of maintaining the highest standards in academic and athletic achievement with a true balance between student and athlete. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.