Two days after he helped select half a dozen players in the NBA Development League draft, Maine Red Claws Coach Scott Morrison worked on facial recognition.
He had read scouting reports, had watched video and had even seen a few of the players in person at an open tryout in late September at the Boston Celtics’ practice facility in Waltham, Massachusetts.
“I’m familiar with them all,” said Morrison, promoted to head coach after spending last season as a volunteer assistant with the Red Claws. “Now I’m trying to make sure I recognize all their faces.”
Morrison spoke before the team’s first training camp workout Monday at the Portland Expo. Sixteen of the 17 invited players were in attendance. The only player missing was guard Jason Calliste, who had difficulty leaving Canada because of a visa issue.
Three players played for the Red Claws last year are back: forwards Chris Babb, Sherwood Brown and Jermaine Taylor.
Babb received a late February promotion to the Celtics, who signed him to a pair of 10-day contracts before agreeing to a multiyear deal.
“This season I feel like I’m in a much better position than I was last year,” said Babb, waived by the Celtics before their training camp because his deal was not guaranteed.”
Taylor played in 65 games in the NBA with Houston and Sacramento ending in 2011. He then played pro ball in Spain, Israel and China before joining the Red Claws in March 2013. After finishing out that spring with the Red Claws, Taylor played two games last fall before a knee injury ended his season.
Glenn Jordan can be contacted at 791-6425 or at:
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Twitter: GlennJordanPPH
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