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ThunderDawgs use draft to put pressure on Allison

Tampa Bay's ABA 2000 franchise makes the ex-Robinson High, UK player a territorial pick. Other picks include Ohio State's Scoonie Penn.

By MIKE READLING

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 16, 2000

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Tampa Bay ThunderDawgs say their goal is to be the perfect example of a community-oriented team.

That's why holding Tuesday night's rookie and professional draft in the middle of a sports bar among fans was no surprise.

What was a surprise was the presence of former Robinson High and University of Kentucky standout Desmond Allison. The ThunderDawgs drafted Allison earlier in the day during the American Basketball Association 2000's inaugural territorial draft. They also took former University of South Florida star Jerome Robinson.

Tampa Bay then added 12 players in a six-round rookie draft, beginning with first-round pick Scoonie Penn from Ohio State, and a six-round professional draft that included 7-foot-4 center Yao Ming.

But the talk of the night was Allison, who listened intently as the ThunderDawgs' picks were shouted above the volume of a baseball game and a semi-crowded bar.

There has been talk all summer of Tampa Bay signing Allison to create local interest in the start-up league. The on-again, off-again pursuit seems to have taken a step in the right direction for Tampa Bay, which holds coach Darryl Dawkins as its ace card.

"I thought I'd just come and check things out," said Allison, who left Kentucky this year after his arrest on charges of drunken driving and possession of marijuana. "Things are still up in the air as to what I'm going to do. I'd like to play to help my mom out and my family, but I haven't really agreed to anything."

Allison has enrolled in Martin Methodist College at Pulaski, Tenn., this fall, and coach Chuck Benson is pushing hard to keep his prized forward on the roster.

ThunderDawgs interim general manager Gregory Smith said the team and Allison are "very close" to an agreement.

"We're working as quickly as possible," Smith said. "When Desmond and Tampa Bay reach an acceptable agreement that both sides are comfortable with, we'll sign a contract."

Allison would get the team's only guaranteed contract, with a value believed to be $50,000-$70,000.

Dawkins spent nearly 21/2 hours on a conference call with the other nine teams, putting together a team he hopes can run and gun its way to a championship.

Penn, a point guard, was his first choice, followed five picks later by Donnie Carr, a shooting guard from LaSalle. Ohio University power forward Shawn Stonerook was taken in the third round, followed by West Virginia forward Marcus Goree, Bowling Green forward Anthony Stacy and Gonzaga guard Marcus Faison.

In the professional draft, Tampa Bay selected Auburn center Alvin Jefferson in the first round and Larry Ayuso, who played in Puerto Rico last season, in the second. John Strickland, former Florida State guard Kerry Thompson, Johnny Tyson and Ming, who played for the Chinese national team, filled out the draft for the ThunderDawgs.

"I got just about every player I wanted," Dawkins said.

Among the highlights was Chicago drafting Dennis Rodman with the first pick in the professional draft; Anaheim choosing Dominique Wilkins; and Los Angeles coach Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Chicago coach George Gervin drafting their sons.

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