GREENVILLE, S.C., December 26 – The Los Angeles Clippers announced today the signing of Asheville Altitude guard Kirk Penney, making him the 40th GATORADE call-up and the 100th overall NBDL promotion since the league began play in November 2001.

Penney, who will be in uniform for the Clippers tonight in Houston, averaged 9.4 points and 2.1 rebounds in 12 games for Altitude this season. At 6-5, 220, he connected on 43-of-106 field goal attempts (.406) and 26-of-29 free throw tries (.897).

A native of New Zealand, Penney has represented his country in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games, the Goodwill Games in 2001 and the World Championships in 2002. A standout at Wisconsin (’03), he finished his collegiate career as the sixth all-time leading scorer in Wisconsin history with 1,454 points.

The NBDL, the NBA’s minor league, includes the Fayetteville Patriots (N.C.), Florida Flame (Ft. Myers), Huntsville Flight (Ala.), Roanoke Dazzle (Va.), Columbus Riverdragons (Ga.) and Asheville Altitude (N.C.).

The league offers players the opportunity to develop their talent in a highly competitive atmosphere under the NBA’s umbrella. Twenty-nine (29) players have earned GATORADE Call-ups to the NBA on 40 separate occasions. Nine former NBDL coaches, five athletic trainers, 11 referees and 29 front office executives have also been called up to the NBA umbrella since the start of the league’s inaugural season in November 2001. Six additional front office executives have earned positions with other major league sports.

Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the league also offers fun, family entertainment at affordable prices. The NBDL is a source of on-court talent for the NBA’s 30 teams and is a diverse human resources pool for the NBA and its teams by training employees in management, operations, public relations, sales and marketing positions.