Monday 01/25/2010 15:34:48
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor announced today the Jazz has signed rookie guard and University of Georgia alum Sundiata Gaines for the remainder of the season.
Gaines was originally signed to a 10-day contract by the Jazz on January 5 before being re-signed to a second 10-day contract on Jan. 15. He has appeared in seven games for the Jazz, averaging 2.9 points and 1.1 assists in 7.1 minutes per game. The Jazz is 6-2 since signing Gaines, who hit a game-winning three-pointer as time expired to beat Cleveland, 97-96, on Jan. 14. He also recorded a career-high nine points vs. the Cavaliers. Gaines reached career highs in minutes (21) and assists (five) in his NBA debut vs. Memphis on Jan. 6.
Gaines became the fourth NBA Development League (D-League) Call-Up to the NBA this season, as well as the fourth D-League Call-Up in Jazz history, joining Rusty LaRue (2000-01), Mikki Moore (2003-04) and Louis Amundson (2006-07).
The Jamaica, N.Y., native won 2nd-team All-SEC honors as a junior and senior at Georgia. He was named the 2008 SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player after leading the Bulldogs to just the second tournament title in the program's history. Gaines finished his Georgia career as its all-time leader in steals and its second-leading career assist maker, in addition to scoring 1,469 points.
Gaines had averages of 23.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 14 games with the D-League’s Idaho Stampede prior to being signed by the Jazz. He spent the 2008-09 campaign in Italy with NGC Cantu.
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Gaines was originally signed to a 10-day contract by the Jazz on January 5 before being re-signed to a second 10-day contract on Jan. 15. He has appeared in seven games for the Jazz, averaging 2.9 points and 1.1 assists in 7.1 minutes per game. The Jazz is 6-2 since signing Gaines, who hit a game-winning three-pointer as time expired to beat Cleveland, 97-96, on Jan. 14. He also recorded a career-high nine points vs. the Cavaliers. Gaines reached career highs in minutes (21) and assists (five) in his NBA debut vs. Memphis on Jan. 6.
Gaines became the fourth NBA Development League (D-League) Call-Up to the NBA this season, as well as the fourth D-League Call-Up in Jazz history, joining Rusty LaRue (2000-01), Mikki Moore (2003-04) and Louis Amundson (2006-07).
The Jamaica, N.Y., native won 2nd-team All-SEC honors as a junior and senior at Georgia. He was named the 2008 SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player after leading the Bulldogs to just the second tournament title in the program's history. Gaines finished his Georgia career as its all-time leader in steals and its second-leading career assist maker, in addition to scoring 1,469 points.
Gaines had averages of 23.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 14 games with the D-League’s Idaho Stampede prior to being signed by the Jazz. He spent the 2008-09 campaign in Italy with NGC Cantu.
georgiadogs.com
