Deng Gai

Deng Gai
Personal information
Born (1982-03-22) March 22, 1982
Wau, Sudan
(now South Sudan)
Nationality South Sudanese
Listed height 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight 250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school Milford Academy
(Milford, Connecticut)
College Fairfield (2001–2005)
NBA draft 2005 / Undrafted
Playing career 2005–2011
Position Power forward
Career history
2005 Philadelphia 76ers
2006 Dodge City Legend
2006–2007 Wilmington Sea Dawgs
2007 Albany Patroons
2007–2008 Śląsk Wrocław
2011 Palangos Naglis
Career highlights and awards

Deng Gai (born March 22, 1982) is a South Sudanese former professional basketball player. A power forward, he played in the NBA and in several other leagues. Gai was the 2005 NCAA Division I men's basketball season blocks leader. He is also a cousin of NBA player Luol Deng.[1]

College basketball

After attending Milford Academy in Connecticut, Gai played college basketball at Fairfield University (also in the state), where he was a three-time MAAC Defensive Player of the Year and took the Stags to the MAAC semifinals in 2005.[2] Gai graduated as number eight on the NCAA's all-time blocked shots list.

As a senior, Gai was named first team All-MAAC, leading the nation in blocks (5.5 bpg) while blocking 10 or more shots in three contests.[3]

Professional basketball

Gai declared for the NBA Draft in 2004, but ultimately withdrew his name.[4] He was signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2005.[5]

After playing in only two games for the team, Gai was waived in December 2005. He then briefly played for the USBL's Dodge City Legend and the ABA's Wilmington Sea Dawgs. Subsequently, Gai, who had been drafted in 2005 by the CBA's Albany Patroons (2nd round, 10th overall), played for the team in the USBL, leading it in blocks. At the end of the season, he was named to the league's All-Defensive Team.[6]

In 2007-08, Gai represented Poland's Śląsk Wrocław, but the team folded after that season.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gaide01.html Deng Gai NBA Stats | Basketball-Reference.com
  2. ↑ Andrea Woo, "Hard Road to Hardwood Glory," Sports Illustrated, March 14, 2005
  3. ↑ CSTV.com: #1 in College Sports
  4. ↑ Fifty-three early entry candidates withdraw
  5. ↑ Sixers sign free agents Deng Gai and Shavlik Randolph
  6. ↑ USBL reveals 2007 “ALL-USBL” teams
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/7/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.