Friday, March 16, 2012

Siena's Ubiles Inked by NBA Wizards; Downey to IBL

March isn't only time for college post-season madness, but there are some professional transactions with MAAC connections to report.

A variety of sources indicate that the NBA Washington Wizards have called up former Siena standout Edwin Ubiles from the Dakota Wizards of the Developmental League. The Wizards had an open roster spot after trading JaVale McGee and Nick Young to the Denver Nuggets for Nene.

Ubiles has been one of the best prospects in the D-League all-season. The 25-year old swingman is averaging 20.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists and shooting 50 percent from the field.

Ubiles also was a starter and fourth-leading scorer on the Puerto Rican National Team that won a gold medal at this past summer's Pan-Am Games.

Ubiles was in the preseason camp of the Golden State Warriors this year, and was still around when the team had 16 players, but was one of the last players cut prior to the start of regular-season play.

Ubiles was a four-year starter at Siena and was part of the program's three consecutive MAAC titles and NCAA tournament appearances and completed his eligibility in the 2009-10 season.

A versatile player, Ubiles finished his college career as the Siena program's third all-time leading scorer with 1,939 points.

If Ubiles gets into a game for the Wizards he would become the first Siena player to ever be on the court for an NBA regular-season contest.

Former Saint Kenny Hasbrouck signed two 10-day contracts with the Miami Heat during the 2009-10 season and was officially on that team's active 13-player roster but never saw action.

One other professional transaction took place Friday, on a lesser level, concerning a former Siena player.

Senior guard Kyle Downey, Siena's third-leading scorer (13.3 points per game) this past season, has agreed to a 2012 contract with the Albany Legends of the professional Independent Basketball League.

After three injury plagued seasons, Downey was finally healthy as a senior and played a league-high 37.8 minutes per game.

Legends' general manager Nick Deane, in a press release issued by the team, called Downey "A balanced player who is going to give you every impressive dimension of his game every night he puts on a uniform."

Down is expected to make his professional debut when the Legends play an exhibition contest tomorrow (Saturday) at Mohonasen High School in Rotterdam, N.Y.

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