Again, I've been asleep for some happenings since the end of the college basketballs season but this has been a very good first year as a pro for Belleville, ON's Jamie Vanderbeken.
Vanderbeken, who plays for the Bakersfield Jam, was named to the D-League's All Rookie Second Team last week after he averaged 5.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 20.1 minutes per outing. He played a total of 28 regular season games that included 12 starts. Despite playing just over half of his team's games on the year, he still was fourth in both 3-point attempts and makes with 118 and 42 respectively.
Vanderbeken didn't play a big role for the Jam in the play offs averaging 2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 7.8 minutes in the team's four games in the post season.
As a side note Vanderbeken, who is a tremendous shooter, did not attempt a single free throw in his 594 combined regular season and play off minutes.
All this is bode well for his future going forward. When I spoke to Vanderbeken last summer at the Senior Men's Training Camp, he had told me he had a job with a team in Europe but after being released midway through the season he was acquired by Bakersfield. Gaining this honor in a very good league can only mean that he will likely get a more lucrative set of offers this summer to return back to Europe for next year.
Hopefully I can get a chance to catch up with him in Toronto if the Canada Basketball has any men's workouts going on to discuss his season as a rookie.