GER - Star duo commit to BBL

BONN (BBL) - Two of the pillars of Telekom Baskets Bonn's run to the German BBL play-offs have signed new deals to remain in the BBL, but whereas Jason Conley pledged his future to Bonn, Jason Gardner has switched to EWE Baskets Oldenburg.

Conley, 25, who averaged 14.6 points and 7.4 rebounds in Bonn's 3-2 quarter-final play-off series loss to finalists Brose Baskets Bamberg, has opted for another year with the side he joined as a rookie from the University of Missouri in 2005.

"Jason will continue to stabilise his performances with us and I'm very happy he decided to stay," said Bonn coach Michael Koch, who will also have Artur Kolodziejski, John Bowler,
Bernd Kruel and Patrick Flomo back from this season.

Bonn, however, will be losing their playmaker Gardner, who averaged 14.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists during the play-offs.

"Of course we're disappointed he's leaving. But we couldn't counter what Oldenburg was offering. So it didn't make sense to make a bid on him," Bonn president Wolfgang Wiedlich said.

The personnel carousel also continued in Frankfurt, where just days after signing last season's late coaching replacement Murat Didin, the 2004 champions Deutsche Bank
Skyliners recruited Jimmie Hunt on a three-year contract from Slovenian side Kemoplast Alpos Sentjur and Maksym Shtein from ratiopharm Ulm.

Giessen 46ers, meanwhile, have added guard Shawan Robinson from British champions Newcastle Eagles, where he averaged 15.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals.

In other moves, ratiopharm Ulm signed shot-blocking specialist Sean Finn, point guard Kyle Bailey and German shooting guard Sebastian Betz.

Paderborn have raided the second division to sign power forward Terren Harbut from Hertener Lowen and guard Jason Edwin from Schalke.

Dave Hein
FIBA