July 6, 2004

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - As the summer months heat up, some faces familiar to Terp fans will be taking to the hardwood. Summer league action begins this week, with several established Terrapin pros joining their summer squads as several others are hoping the experience will help land them a spot on a NBA roster for 2004-05. Follow all of the Terps during the month of July on umterps.com or NBA.com.

Laron Profit (1995-1999), a member of two Maryland Sweet Sixteen teams, joins current Washington Wizard Steve Blake (1999-2003) on Washington's summer league roster. Blake, who was the starting point guard on two Final Four teams and the Terps' 2002 National Championship squad, is coming off a solid rookie campaign with the Wizards. He averaged 5.9 points per game and 2.8 assists and will run the show in two leagues for Washington, the Pepsi Pro Summer League in Orlando (July 6-10) and the Reebok Vegas Summer League in Nevada (July 13-18).

Waiting for Blake and Profit will be Jamar Smith (2002-2004), who will join the Orlando Magic summer league team that will also take part in the Pepsi Pro League and the Reebok Vegas League. Smith was an integral part of the Terrapins' 2004 ACC Championship team, averaging 13.1 points per game and was second in the conference with 8.8 rebounds.

Out West, another pair of former Terps will join forces in summer league play. Former front-court teammates from the 2001 Maryland Final Four team, Terence Morris (1997-2001) and Chris Wilcox (2000-2002), will play for the Los Angeles Clippers in the Long Beach Summer League in California. Wilcox is coming off his second season with the Clippers after averaging 8.6 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 52.1 percent from the field in a key role off the bench in L.A. Morris averaged 11.4 points and 7.4 rebounds for the NBDL's Columbus Riverdragons last season.

Forward Tahj Holden (1999-2003), another member of Maryland's 2002 National Championship team and 2001 Final Four squad, will attempt to join another championship team in 2004 NBA titlewinner Detroit. Holden, who played professionally in Turkey during the 2003-04 season, will head out to the Minnesota Summer League (July 6-10) to play for the Pistons.

Sharpshooter Drew Nicholas (1999-2003), famous for his buzzer beater against UNC Wilmington in the first round of the 2003 NCAA Tournament, will join the Atlanta Hawks' summer league team. The Hawks will take part in the Rocky Mountain Revue in Salt Lake City, Utah. Nicholas averaged more than 30 points per game for Fabriano in 2003-04, a team based outside of Milan that plays in Italy's Legadue.