July 22, 2003

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Former Terp standout Lonny Baxter has become the latest player to post big numbers on the courts of the NBA summer basketball leagues.

Baxter, who is playing for the Chicago Bulls in the Reebok Rocky Mountain Revue, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, is already making his impression felt after only three games of play. Baxter is pacing the league and his squad with a 21.3 points per game average, so far edging such names as Carmelo Anthony, a forward out of Syracuse and the top draft pick of the Denver Nuggets.

The two-time NCAA regional MVP while leading Maryland to Final Four appearances in 2001 and 2002, Baxter is also second on the Bulls (3-0) in rebounds (18) and tied for first in blocks (4), while leading the team in free throws (14) and field goals made (25).

With three games remaining in summer league play, Baxter, a 2002 draft pick, shows no signs of letting up and looks to continue his dominating play with the Bulls in the upcoming season.

Baxter is not the only player who has put up big numbers this summer. Washington Wizards teammates Juan Dixon and Steve Blake were major factors on the court for the Wizards in the Reebok Pro Summer League in Boston, Mass., which wrapped up its final games on July 20.

Blake and Dixon led the Wizards to an overall 3-3 record in the league with an 80-76 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers this past Sunday. Both Blake and Dixon had a fantastic finish to their summer league play, posting 11 and 24 points in the final game, respectively. Blake also finished with 10 assists for the game.

Dixon, headed into his second year with the Wizards, finished the summer season leading the Wizards in scoring at 18.0 points per game and, also in steals with 20. He finished fifth on the team in rebounds and second in total minutes and assists. Dixon was recently named to the Reebok Pro Summer League second team.

Blake, drafted by the Wizards in the second round of this year's NBA draft, finished third for the Wizards in scoring with an average of 6.3 points per game. Blake led the team in assists with 41 and a 6.8 assists per game average. He also led the team in total minutes with 184.

Also gracing the court of the Reebok Pro Summer League was former Terp Tahj Holden. Holden was picked up on the summer squad of the Atlanta Hawks.

Holden started in all six games for Atlanta and helped the Hawks post a 3-3 overall record. He finished fourth on the team in total rebounds with 25 and an average of 4.2 per game. Holden was also tied for second on the Hawks with six steals and four blocks. He averaged 4.2 points per game.

Across the country, Chris Wilcox put in a strong showing in the Southern California Pro Summer League located in Long Beach, Calif., which wrapped up its league competition on July 20.

Wilcox, also headed into his second year with the L.A. Clippers, established a 52.6 field goal percentage and finished with a 78.3 free throw percentage across five games. With a 9.8 points per game average to go along with 6.8 rebounds per game, it appears as if Wilcox is prepared to have a serious impact with L.A. this upcoming season. Wilcox helped his team to a 5-2 summer league finish.

The Pepsi Pro Summer League wrapped up on July 12 in Orlando, Fla. Drew Nicholas, famous for his March Madness buzzer-beater, joined the host Orlando Magic squad and averaged nearly two points and one assist per game in limited playing time. Orlando finished summer league play at 1-4.