Mavs get Langford! and Rivera

[NoHeartIncluded]

I like the pickup, he is a winner and maybe a steal!

[dirno2000]

By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News

The Mavericks will have at least one high-profile local product on their summer-league team, getting a commitment from former North Crowley standout Keith Langford on Wednesday.

The 6-4 Langford was second-team all-Big 12 as a junior and senior at Kansas, where he finished in sixth on the all-time scoring list. He averaged 14.4 points last season, shooting 35 percent on 3-pointers and 46.5 percent overall.

In addition, the Mavericks expect to sign Filiberto Rivera, a 6-2 point guard from UT-El Paso.

"We think he's an interesting player," said Donnie Nelson, president of basketball operations. "And we always want to take care of our local guys like Keith."

Josh Powell, who was on the summer team two years ago, also will be on this year's team. The Mavericks expect to have 10 to 12 players on the team that will compete at the Reebok Las Vegas Summer League starting Wednesday. The team has an exhibition set for Saturday against the French junior team that will be playing in the Global Games.

Pavel Podkolzin, a 7-5, second-year center, is expected to join the team on Saturday or Sunday after getting married in Russia.

[StrikerV]

PAVEL = MARRIED!

[MrCheerios]

Fili Rivera will be an awesome player.

[Flip41]

Here is some Langford info.

Career to date: Began playing basketball fairly late, in the eighth grade. Averaged 25.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game as a high school senior in Fort Worth, Texas. Posted 40 points and 20 rebounds during one outing. Collected a school-record 1,844 points for his prep career. Originally committed to Mississippi, but then decided to attend Kansas rather than Mississippi, Cincinnati or Oklahoma. Averaged 7.9 points and 3.3 rebounds in 20.9 minutes per game in his first season as a Jayhawk. Named to the NCAA Midwest Regional All-Tournament team. Played seven games for the NIT All-Stars in Canada the following summer, posting 8.7 points and 3.6 rebounds. Started all 38 games as a sophomore, ranking third on the team with 15.9 points per game while pulling down 4.9 boards per contest. Ranked 10th in the Big 12 in scoring and seventh in field goal percentage (53.0%). Named to the NCAA All-Final Four Team and honorable mention All-Big 12. As a junior, ranked second on the team in both scoring, rebounding and assists with averages of 15.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. Earned USBWA All-District 6, Second Team All-Big 12, and NABC All-District 12 Second Team honors. Also was a Wooden Award Finalist.

Scouting Report: Lefty a superb athlete ... Great mid-range game, doesn't settle for 3's ... Able to come off screens well and clear space for a jumper ... Has greatly improved his long-range shooting skills ... Not a mad-bomber by any means, but does utilize the perimeter shot as part of his repertoire ... Smooth going to his left ... One of the best slashers in the country ... Consistently gets to the rim, pushing the ball to the basket before the defense can set itself ... Outstanding finisher ... Understands how to play within a system and rarely forces the action ... Excellent passer, capable of playing back-up point guard ... Adept at crashing both the offensive and defensive boards, especially to initiate the transition game ... A tremendous shot-blocker for his height ... Quickly explodes off the floor ... Solid ball-thief ... Can defend all three perimeter positions.

Stat Stuffer: As a freshman, enjoyed a breakout game against No. 4 Arizona scoring 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting. In the NCAA Tournament, notched then career-highs of 20 points and eight rebounds against Oregon. Broke out as a sophomore. Shot 7-of-8, 10-of-11, 10-of-13, 8-of-11, 7-of-10, 10-of-15 and 11 of-14 in his top performances. Posted a season-high 27 points on 11-19 shooting in a loss to No. 1 Arizona. As a junior, recorded 24 points at TCU (9-10 FGs) and vs. Villanova (14-18 FTs) and Tennessee-Chattanooga. Reached double figures in scoring on 27 occasions.

Fun Fact: Langford's given name is Andre, but he goes by his middle name, Keith. Keith owns the unusual habit of changing his sneakers during the intermission if he plays poorly in the first half. He also owns a pair of lucky socks.

Six Degrees of MJ: Langford's former Kansas teammate Drew Gooden worked as a counselor at Michael Jordan's Flight School fantasy basketball camp over the summer of 2001.


I really like this guy. Plus he's a winner.