KNOXVILLE, Tenn. --- For a second-straight
summer Tusculum College guard Jimmy Boone will be
playing in the Pilot Rocky Top Basketball League. Boone will be
playing for Ray's ESG, one of six teams comprised of current and
former collegiate players.
The Rocky Top Basketball League, which is approved by the NCAA,
serves as a summer development league for collegiate
student-athletes.
The Ray's ESG roster includes players the University of Tennessee,
UT-Chattanooga, Milligan College, Tennessee Wesleyan University,
University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Maryville College. Five
players with Tennessee ties, highlights the Ray's ESG roster,
including former Tennessee Volunteers Ron Slay and C.J. Watson.
Other colleges and universities represented in the league are East
Tennessee State University, Eastern Michigan University,
Carson-Newman College, UNC Asheville, College of Charleston, Middle
Tennessee State University, Wofford College, Marquette University,
Lincoln Memorial University, Alabama State University, Radford
University, Bryan College, Adrian College and Roane State Community
College.
Boone, a 6-1, 180-pound rising senior from Greeneville, Tenn.,
average 6.1 points per game last season with Tusculum ranked
amongst the leaders in the South Atlantic Conference in three-point
field goal percentage (38.7% - 9th in SAC). Boone, the son of
Tusculum head coach Jim Boone, played in 30 games
in 2008-09, earned SAC Player of the Week honors once last
year.
Two league participants also have ties to Coach Boone. Former
Tusculum assistant coach Dan Walter is playing the league as is
former Eastern Michigan standout James ?Boo? Jackson, who played
for Coach Boone while he was head coach at EMU.
Tusculum is coming off one of its best seasons in school history.
The Pioneers posted a 20-11 record, while advancing to the NCAA
Division II Tournament for the second time in school history. TC
returns six of its top eight players from a year ago, including
Boone and All-America guard Kyle Moore.
Rocky Top Basketball League games are scheduled for Monday and
Wednesday nights from June 15-July 1, with the championship rounds
being played on Thursday, July 2. All games will be played at
Bearden High School in Knoxville and admission is free.
- TC ?
