DALLAS -- Former Bradley forward Marcellus Sommerville, who led the Braves (22-11) to the third round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament in Oakland, Calif., will return to California as a member of the Dallas Mavericks roster in the 37th Southern California Summer Pro League.
The Mavericks are one of four NBA teams fielding a squad for the Southern California Summer Pro League, which opens its schedule today and will continue through July 19 at The Pyramid on the campus of Long Beach State University. Sommerville's Dallas team will play five games, beginning Sunday versus the Los Angles Lakers. The Mavericks also will play Monday versus Memphis, Wednesday again against the Lakers, Thursday versus the Grizzlies and July 15 against Washington.
A three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference forward, Sommerville averaged 15.7 points and 6.8 rebounds during his senior season and was the only player in the Valley to rank among the league's top five in both scoring and rebounding for the third consecutive season. The 6-foot-7 forward also led the Braves with 59 3-point baskets and became the first player in Valley history to pull down at least 600 rebounds and make at least 150 3-point baskets during a 3-year period.
Sommerville is one of two players on the 2005-06 Braves playing on the NBA summer circuit. Former center Patrick O'Bryant, who was the ninth overall pick by the Golden State Warriors in the 2006 NBA Draft, signed with the Warriors Friday, agreeing to a contract that is believed to be worth $3.5 million for two years based on the league's rookie pay scale. O'Bryant made his professional debut Friday for Golden State's entry in the Toshiba Vegas Summer League, playing a team-high 24 minutes and finishing with four points, three rebounds and a blocked shot. Portland downed the Warriors, 87-70, Friday night at UNLV's Cox Pavilion. Golden State will return to action at 6 p.m. (CST) tonight versus Shaun Livingston's Los Angeles Clippers.
