PEORIA, Ill. ? The San Antonio Spurs announced this afternoon that former Bradley point guard Daniel Ruffin (Peoria, Ill./Peoria H.S.) will play on their Summer League squad. In other NBA news, The Boston Globe is reporting the world champion Boston Celtics have signed former Bradley center Patrick O'Bryant to a two-year contract.
O'Bryant, who was the ninth overall pick by Golden State in the 2006 NBA Draft but played sparingly in his two seasons with the Warriors, worked out for the Celtics last week. The terms of his agreement have not yet been announced. The 7-footer helped Bradley to a 22-11 record and a spot in the 2006 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, a postseason run that was highlighted by wins versus Kansas and Pittsburgh in the first two rounds at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
O'Bryant will be joined in the Boston area by another Bradley Basketball player, Marcus Pollard, who signed a free agent contract with the NFL's New England Patriots last spring. He is also joined in the NBA's Atlantic Division by another former Brave, Anthony Parker, who is preparing for his third season with the Toronto Raptors. O'Bryant becomes the third Brave to play the Celtics, following Steve Kuberski (1969-74, '76-78) and David Thirdkill (1985-87). Both Kuberrski (1974 and 1976) and Thirdkill (1986) won NBA championships with the Celtics.
In the final three seasons of his four-year Bradley career, Ruffin helped the Braves to three straight 21-win seasons, each of which was capped by postseason victories. Following the 2006 NCAA Tournament run, Bradley went 22-13 in 2007 and reached the second round of the MasterCard NIT, while the 2008 squad finished 21-17 and was the runner-up in the inaugural College Basketball Invitational. A four-year starter at the point, the 5-foot-10 Ruffin became just the second player in school and Missouri Valley Conference history (Anthony Manuel) to score at least 1,200 points and dish out at least 600 career assists.
Ruffin will be joined on the Spurs' Summer League roster by two former Valley rivals, Creighton center Anthony Tolliver and Southern Illinois shooting guard Jamaal Tatum. The San Antonio summer roster also features former Illinois star Roger Powell.
The Spurs plan to play four games each in a pair of NBA Summer League events, the Vegas Summer League July 14-17 in Las Vegas and the Rocky Mountain Revue July 18-22 in Salt Lake City.
2008 Vegas Summer League Schedule
July 14 San Antonio vs. Memphis, 9:30 p.m.
July 15 San Antonio vs. New Orleans, 7:30 p.m.
July 16 San Antonio vs. New York, 3:00 p.m.
July 17 San Antonio vs. Phoenix, 7:30 p.m.
2008 Rocky Mountain Revue
July 18 San Antonio at Utah, 8:00 p.m.
July 19 San Antonio vs. D-League Ambassadors, 5:30 p.m.
July 21 San Antonio vs. Dallas, 1:00 p.m.
July 22 San Antonio vs. Atlanta, 3:15 p.m.
All times CDT
