Blakely, who played at Vermont for four seasons, played for Los Angeles in the Las Vegas Summer League.

Read more: http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/68385/20100727/clippers_sign_blakely_to_two_year_deal/#ixzz0uukerPhH

BRIGGS wrote:

Paladin55 wrote:^I was wondering when you were going to post this.^

Well out of the 20 million amateur basketball fans if you can identify a few others who spotted and called out the names Marques Blakely and Jeremy Lin months before the draft--please come forward:)

You did a good job, Ramrod.

Didn't see it, but Blakely actually hit a 3 in SL.

Just added this from a Clippers reporter: http://clipperblog.com/2010/07/27/clippers-sign-marqus-blakely/

Agent Sam Porter tells Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress that the Clippers have signed the forward from the University of Vermont to a 2-year, partially guaranteed contract.

I like this deal for two reasons:

The Clippers get a low-risk, heady, athletic ballplayer who makes good decisions, can defend the wing with a vengeance and play above the rim. In four summer league games with the Clips, Blakely averaged 7.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and a couple of steals in 23.3 minutes. He shot 65.5 percent from the floor.
In Las Vegas, Blakely was on the radar of several teams in both the NBA and Europe as one of the better undrafted 4-year collegians at summer league. Though Blakely might never be an All-Star in the NBA, he’s the kind of player that the league’s craftier franchises always seem to unearth. Neil Olshey and Clippers director of scouting Gary Sacks deserve praise for locking him up with a partially-guaranteed contract. This demonstrates resourcefulness on the part of the organization — a good sign.

From the Burlington Free Press:

If Blakely makes the Clippers’ 15-man roster, he will receive the NBA’s minimum annual salary of $473,604, Porter said.

If he doesn’t make the Clippers, Porter said Blakely will still pocket the guaranteed portion of the contract and weigh three options: Try to sign with another team; play in the NBA’s Developmental League; or explore professional opportunities overseas.

BRIGGS wrote:

Paladin55 wrote:^I was wondering when you were going to post this.^

Well out of the 20 million amateur basketball fans if you can identify a few others who spotted and called out the names Marques Blakely and Jeremy Lin months before the draft--please come forward:)

I read the ESPN article on Lin back in December. Does that count?

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=oneil_dana&id=4730385

Redcru wrote:I got to see almost every one of Blakely's home games...I am thrilled for him...as is the whole state!

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20100727/SPORTS0101/100727011/1002/SPORTS/UVM-s-Blakely-signs-with-L.A.-Clippers

Would he have been worth taking a gamble on? I expect that he worked on his shooting a lot prior to SL. Does the have the ability to be a wing?

He seems like the type of player I will root for most of the time- unless he is hurting the Knicks.