The St. John’s Edge are counting on getting a big assist from their newest player.
Make that assists.
On Thursday night, the National Basketball League of Canada’s Edge announced they have signed point guard Tra-Deon Hollins, a 23-year-old native of Omaha, Neb.
The 6-2, 190-pound Hollins last played in the G League, the NBA’s top development circuit, with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the affiliate of the Indiana Pacers. Before being released by Fort Wayne early last month, he appeared in 30 games G League this season, half of them as a starter, averaging better that seven point per game. But what really stands out is Hollins’ average of almost eight assists per game with the Mad Ants, which was enough to make him the league leader in that category.
After playing at the junior college level, Hollins transferred to the University of Nebraska-Omaha, averaging 12.95 points and 6.33 assists per game with the Mavericks. He was the Summit League Conference defensive player of the year in 2016 and 2017, and was a first-team conference all-star both years.
Hollins was a first-round G-League draft selection by the Mad Ants in 2017.
The Edge (19-15), who sit first in the NBLC’s Central Division, added Hollins as a designated player in replace of forward Obinna Oleka, who signed with a team in Mexico earlier this month.
Now, with a full 12-man roster — star guard Carl English remains on injured reserve — St. John's will resume its regular season-ending homestand with games against the KW Titans Tuesday and Wednesday nights at Mile One Centre.
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