Morgan Lewis, Thorns bound for Cape Breton
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| Photo Credit: Jason Malloy/The Guardian |
Older fans will recognize Lewis from 2011 as the first player to ever be drafted into the league. He helped lead an undefeated University of Findlay team to the NCAA Division II national championship.
Following a stint overseas, Lewis was picked up by the Oshawa Power, sticking with the team and their Mississauga successor for multiple seasons. In 2012, he led the league in steals per game. A two-time All-Star, he also spent some time with the title-bound London Lightning in between.
Lewis joined the Island Storm midway through the 2015-16 season, returning from a year in Saudi Arabia. He was coming off a major ankle injury that kept him on the sidelines for six months. He averaged 8.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists during the regular season for Joe Salerno's team. He stepped up further in the playoffs amid the suspension of leading scorer Brent Jennings and averaged 13.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in three postseason appearances.
General manager and president Tyrone Levingston remarked, "I'm excited to have Morgan bring his veteran experience to our rookie team."
Commanding a new team with relatively unseasoned players thus far, head coach Dean Murray hit the jackpot in terms of NBL Canada experience. Lewis may not have the potential he had in his early days, but unless the Highlanders get their hands on a better wing, he should find himself thrust in a far bigger role in Cape Breton than in Charlottetown.
The Highlanders also welcome a 5-foot-9 floor general in Thorns, who is a newcomer to the NBL Canada but has just as many accomplishments. An illustrious Division I career at Virginia Tech and Texas Christian saw him break the 1,000-point and 500-assist milestones and record the sixth-most assists in TCU history.
Thorns played with the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League during the 2012-13 season, and he averaged 2.5 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. Before joining the team, he played five preseason contests for the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers. Since then, Thorns has competed in the best Montenegrin league and, most recently, in Mexico.
Thorns is a true point guard who is an elite passer who can knock down his shots from the three-point line. He has been known as a leader since college, and his competitive drive has been embraced by every team that has signed him.
"Hank is highly regarded by personnel in the NBA Development League where they tell me that we can't go wrong with Hank on our team," said Levingston. "The point guard role is key to the success of any team and I look forward to seeing what Hank is going to bring to that role."
These are the Highlanders' first free agent signings since the beginning of October, when they inked deals with Shaquille Keith and Jimmy Dorsey. As the team looks at four stacked Atlantic Division rosters, we should expect more news from them soon.
Following a stint overseas, Lewis was picked up by the Oshawa Power, sticking with the team and their Mississauga successor for multiple seasons. In 2012, he led the league in steals per game. A two-time All-Star, he also spent some time with the title-bound London Lightning in between.
Lewis joined the Island Storm midway through the 2015-16 season, returning from a year in Saudi Arabia. He was coming off a major ankle injury that kept him on the sidelines for six months. He averaged 8.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists during the regular season for Joe Salerno's team. He stepped up further in the playoffs amid the suspension of leading scorer Brent Jennings and averaged 13.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in three postseason appearances.
General manager and president Tyrone Levingston remarked, "I'm excited to have Morgan bring his veteran experience to our rookie team."
Commanding a new team with relatively unseasoned players thus far, head coach Dean Murray hit the jackpot in terms of NBL Canada experience. Lewis may not have the potential he had in his early days, but unless the Highlanders get their hands on a better wing, he should find himself thrust in a far bigger role in Cape Breton than in Charlottetown.
The Highlanders also welcome a 5-foot-9 floor general in Thorns, who is a newcomer to the NBL Canada but has just as many accomplishments. An illustrious Division I career at Virginia Tech and Texas Christian saw him break the 1,000-point and 500-assist milestones and record the sixth-most assists in TCU history.
Thorns played with the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League during the 2012-13 season, and he averaged 2.5 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. Before joining the team, he played five preseason contests for the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers. Since then, Thorns has competed in the best Montenegrin league and, most recently, in Mexico.
Thorns is a true point guard who is an elite passer who can knock down his shots from the three-point line. He has been known as a leader since college, and his competitive drive has been embraced by every team that has signed him.
"Hank is highly regarded by personnel in the NBA Development League where they tell me that we can't go wrong with Hank on our team," said Levingston. "The point guard role is key to the success of any team and I look forward to seeing what Hank is going to bring to that role."
These are the Highlanders' first free agent signings since the beginning of October, when they inked deals with Shaquille Keith and Jimmy Dorsey. As the team looks at four stacked Atlantic Division rosters, we should expect more news from them soon.
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