Red Claws Acquire Fall and Clinch

The Maine Red Claws, presented by Quirk Chevrolet, today announced that they have acquired center Bamba Fall from the Reno Bighorns. Reno will receive Maine’s 7th round selection in the 2011 NBA Development League Draft. In a separate transaction, the Red Claws have acquired Lewis Clinch from the Available Player Pool. Both players are expected to join the team in Springfield for the Red Claws’ Thursday night game against the Armor.

Bamba Fall, 24, is 7-1 center out of Southern Methodist University. He played in Israel last season before being drafted in the 7th round of the 2010 NBA D-League Draft by the Bighorns. Due to visa issues, which have since been resolved, Fall has not played this season. A graduate of Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, which has produced numerous NBA players and prospects including the Celtics’ Rajon Rondo and the Red Claws’ Tiny Gallon, Fall spent four seasons at SMU, starting his final two years, and was named to the C-USA All Defensive Team in 2007 and 2009. He was a member of the Senegalese National Team in 2007 and participated in the African Championships in Angola.

Lewis Clinch, 23, is a 6-3 guard out of Georgia Tech where he was a teammate of Red Claws veteran guard Mario West. Drafted by the Austin in the 3rd round of the 2009 NBA Development League Draft, Clinch has spent the past two seasons with the Toros before being waived this past weekend. In 29 games this season, he averaged 8.5 ppg and 2.2 rbg. Last season, he played in 52 games with Austin, including two playoff appearances, averaging 9.0 ppg and 1.6 rpg. To make room for Clinch on the roster, the Red Claws have waived center James Cripe.

CURRENT RED CLAWS ROSTER:

#      NAME                      POS   HGT     WGT    COLLEGE
10    Lewis Clinch             G        6-3        195        Georgia Tech
12    Kenny Hayes*          G        6-1        170        Miami (Ohio)
14    Jamar Smith*            G        6-4        177        Southern Indiana
15    Antonio Anderson    G        6-6        215        Memphis
19    Mario West               G        6-5        223        Georgia Tech
23    Champ Oguchi          G        6-5        201        Illinois State
24    Bamba Fall               C        7-1        225        Southern Methodist
32    DeShawn Sims*        F         6-8        220        Michigan
34    Eugene Spates           F         6-8        235        Northeastern
44    Tiny Gallon*            F         6-10      310        Oklahoma

RED CLAWS TO HONOR 2011 NBA D-LEAGUE ALL-STAR DESHAWN SIMS SUNDAY: The Red Claws will honor 2011 NBA D-League All-Star DeShawn Sims just prior to start of this Sunday’s game. Sims, 23, will participate in the February 19 NBA D-League All-Star Game in Los Angeles and is considered by many to be a leading candidate for the Rookie of the Year Award. Sims has led the Red Claws in scoring since joining the team the second weekend of the season and is the leading rookie scorer and rebounder in the league. He currently ranks 8th among all players in scoring with 18.1 ppg. Great seats remain for the game and may be purchased by calling 207-210-6655, stopping by the Red Claws offices located at 413 Congress Street in Portland, or online at www.MaineRedClaws.com.

MAINE RED CLAWS: 2009-10 marked the inaugural season for the Maine Red Claws, the minor league affiliate of the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Bobcats. The NBA D-League team plays its home games at the Portland Expo Building. The franchise is owned and operated by Maine Basketball, LLC, which is principally owned by Bill Ryan Sr., the retired chairman of TD Bank, and Bill Ryan Jr., owner and operator of Oxford Plains Speedway. Jon Jennings, a partner in Maine Basketball, LLC and former Boston Celtics assistant coach, serves as the team’s president and general manager.