Former Chaminade College Prep All-American Bradley Beal was one of the many players to cash in on the National Basketball Association’s free agent signing frenzy in the past week.
Beal, 23, agreed to a maximum contract deal with the Washington Wizards, where he has spent the first four seasons of the NBA career. Beal’s maximum contract is for $128 million over five years.
Despite battling a series of injuries over his four seasons, Beal has proven to be one of the league’s top young shooting guards. He averaged 17.4 points and made 39 percent from 3-point range last season. In four seasons with the Wizards, Beal is averaging 16 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists a game while shooting 38 percent from 3-point range and 78 percent from the free throw line.
Beal has also proven to be an even better performer in the playoffs, in which the Wizards qualified in 2014 and 2015. In 21 playoff games in two seasons, Beal averaged 21.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists while shooting 39 percent from 3-point range and 81 percent from the free throw line.
Congratulations to Bradley Beal. It pays to have a feathery jump shot and a strong work ethic.
Mike Rodgers is headed to OlympicsÂ
St. Louisan Mike Rodgers will be headed to the 2016 Summer Olympics as a member of the USA Track and Field Team. Rodgers finished fourth in the 100-meter dash at the USA Olympic Trials in Eugene, OR. He just missed a berth on the team in the open 100, but his fourth-place finish earns him a spot on the 4×100-meter relay.
A former standout at McCluer South-Berkeley High, Rodgers also enjoyed collegiate success at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, where he was a NAIA national champion. He has enjoyed an excellent career on the professional circuit for many years. He was also a member of the USA Olympic Team in 2012.
Courtney Ramey shines at NBA Top 100Â
Webster Groves basketball standout Courtney Ramey turned in a sparkling performance at the recent National Basketball Players Association Top 100 Camp in Charlottesville, VA. The 6’3” Ramey was rated among the top players at the camp, which included many of the top high school players in the country.
The Top 100 Camp was Ramey’s first game action since missing most of the spring grassroots season with a broken jaw. Now, back and healthy, Ramey will lead his Jets-Ramey United 16U team into action this week at the Adidas Uprising Series Gauntlet Finale in Spartanburg, S.C.
St. Louis Surge back in actionÂ
The St. Louis Surge will return to action on Saturday with a home game against the Cleveland Crush at the Mark Twain Building on the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Tip off time is at 7:05 p.m. The Surge sit atop the Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League Midwest Division with a 7-1 record after their 93-88 victory over the Elsberry Flyers Elite last weekend.
Guard Rebecca Harris averages 18 points a game to lead a very balanced scoring attack. Michala Johnson and Jaleesa Butler averaged 12 points a game apiece while Leah Cotton averages 11 points a game.
