Eastern's Jordan Gregg takes a hook shot in the IBL.
Former Eastern Oregon University men’s basketball players Jordan Gregg, Rickey Lott, and Dan Stafford all had productive summers on the court.
Gregg and Lott spent their summers playing professionally in the International Basketball League. The EOU duo played together again for the Central Oregon Hotshots based in Bend. Lott finished his career at Eastern in 2008 and Gregg ended this past season.
“It was fantastic having someone to joke around with on and off of the court,” Lott said of playing with Gregg again. “I think he helped me improve my game a lot. I got to watch things he did and learn from it, along with things we did together on the court.”
“It was definitely fun playing with Rickey again,” Gregg added. “We had a connection out there. He brings excitement to the game. He is the little guy that can make blocks and dunk the ball. The fans enjoy seeing that.”
The IBL is a professional men's spring basketball league featuring teams from the West Coast, Rocky Mountains, Western Canada, and the Midwest. In 2010 the Albany Legends became the first team in the Northeastern United States. They also feature teams from the People's Republic of China and Japan which will temporarily relocate to the USA for the IBL season. The IBL season runs from the end of March through June with playoffs in July.
After averaging 15 points and nine rebounds a game in 2009-10 for the Mountaineers, Gregg posted 18 points and eight rebounds a game in the IBL. He was named an all-star, but was injured in the final game of the season.
Gregg broke his nose, sprained his ankle and dislocated his thumb all in a three-week period. He had surgery to fix his thumb at the end of the season.
“It was incredible experience to be a part of,” Gregg said. “I found out about the league and how to get in when I heard they were renting out the Warner Pacific College gym for tryouts. I had an early tryout and the commissioner picked me up.
“The play was a lot different than what I was used to. It was a lot more individual, but it helped me develop different aspects of my game.”
Lott was integral off of the bench in Eastern Oregon’s 2008-09 run to the national quarterfinals and top five ranking that season. The Yakima, Wash. native, appeared in 19 games for the Hotshots this summer and averaged 12.9 points and 3.6 assists a contest.
“I thought it was great playing with new people and being able to share new experiences with those people,” Lott said. “A buddy of mine told me about a semi-pro tryout in Portland and when I was talking with Jordan he said he was going to that tryout, so I just went with him.
“The tryout for me was three games in two days playing with different teams. I was fortunate enough to impress enough people to be selected early after a strong tryout.”
There were 13 former Cascade Collegiate Conference players in the league this summer, so Gregg and Lott saw plenty of familiar faces. Former Evergreen State College standout and the 2008-09 CCC Player of the Year, Nate Menefee, led the league in scoring with 28.6 points per game. The two-time CCC scoring leader continued where he left off in college scoring over 20 points in 17 of the 18 games he played in.
“It was like a friendly rivalry out there with the guys we knew,” Gregg said. “It wasn’t really competitive with the fellow conference guys.
“I think it was great playing with the guys we played against in college,” Lott added. “I think we all came up with our own ideas of those guys while at EOU, but once we got to know them this summer, we learned they are humble guys who just like to play ball like us.”
Gregg and Lott each now have agents and are looking to play overseas until the 2011 IBL season. Their agents send their highlight films out in hopes of a contract in return.
Dan Stafford graduated from Eastern Oregon University this past spring with an International Business degree. The Auburn, Wash. native will now use that degree in Japan.
Stafford was recently named the assistant coach of the Kyoto Hannaryz of the Japanese Basketball League.
“I was working with an agent trying to get on a team, and he knew the head coach in Kyoto very well,” Stafford said. “My agent told him about me and he was interested so I met him in Las Vegas. He was there watching some players workout and asked me to share advice on the players and my opinions.
“I am way excited for this opportunity. My wife, Kimie, may be more excited. She is originally from Chiba, Japan.”
Stafford will coach in Japan for at least a year, as his contract runs through June of 2011. Dan, Kimie, and their newborn baby boy will leave for Japan in the next coming weeks.