by Matthew Brennan, D-League.com

February 29, 2008: There have been a total of 15 GATORADE Call-Ups this season, with a total of 12 different players heading to the NBA. With 10-day contracts in effect and many NBA teams needing roster help due to injuries or looking to audition new talent for the future, it is likely that many more players from the D-League will be getting the call in the next few weeks. Here are ten players, some with prior NBA experience, who are likely to candidates for a GATORADE Call-Up. Last season 16 players received a total of 22 call-ups to the NBA, while 105 call-ups have taken place in the D-League's history. Some notable players to take the route from the D-League to the NBA include Sacarmento's Mikki Moore, Charlotte's Matt Carroll, Houston's Chuck Hayes, and Golden State's Kelenna Azubuike. Visit the All-Time Call-Ups page to view all 105 call-ups since 2001.
(Statistics as of February 28)

D-League Guards

Andre Barrett, Austin Toros G GS PPG RPG APG FG% PRA 30 30 18.9 3.4 8.8 .498 31.1 Outlook Barrett was recently traded to Toros, where he will distribute the ball to a variety of NBA-level players like Keith Langford and Ian Mahinmi. He had been a bright spot in Bakersfield's season, ranking second in the D-League with 8.8 assists while scoring 18.9 points. The Seton Hall product received two call-ups in 2005-06 spent last season in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls.

Desmon Farmer, Rio Grande Valley Vipers G GS PPG RPG APG FG% PRA 21 17 21.2 3.5 3.2 .459 27.9 Outlook Farmer, who made the Seattle Supersonics roster out of training camp last season, is one of the best three-point shooters in D-League history and currently leads the Vipers with 21.2 points since joining the team in January. He is currently on a torrid streak of shooting, knocking down three or more from beyond the arc in eight straight games. He has topped 30 points in five of those games.

Randy Livingston, Idaho Stampede G GS PPG RPG APG FG% PRA 27 27 15.7 4.1 10.9 .438 30.7 Outlook The 2006-07 D-League Most Valuable Player earned a call-up to the Supersonics last season, and should be on the short list for teams looking for a veteran point guard. Livingston is the only player in the D-League averaging double-figures in assists (10.9) and has sparked the Idaho Stampede to a league best 26-8 record.

Mike Taylor,Idaho Stampede G GS PPG RPG APG FG% PRA 22 7 15.2 3.0 4.2 .515 24.2 Outlook Taylor was a relatively unheralded player heading into the season, and was even waived by the Stamepde at one point before returning. Since January 15 Taylor has exploded offensively, averaging 18.9 points, primarily off the bench. The 6-2 Taylor showed his athleticism with a second-place finish in the D-League Dunk Contest and set a new career-high with 29 points last Friday in a win over Anaheim.

D-League Forwards

Sean Banks, Los Angeles D-Fenders G GS PPG RPG APG FG% PRA 32 32 22.1 5.7 3.1 .475 30.9 Outlook Banks was a member of the Hornets as a rookie in 2005-06, and has displayed the skills to get back to the NBA as a member of the D-Fenders. He ranks fourth in the D-League with 22.1 points per game and has led Los Angeles to the D-League's second best record. Banks only played one year of college basketball and should be attractive to an NBA team looking for a young player with potential.

Elton Brown, Colorado 14ers G GS PPG RPG APG FG% PRA 34 34 20.9 11.6 1.9 .516 34.4 Outlook Brown has been in the elite of D-League frontcourt players over the past two years, but is still looking for his first GATORADE Call-Up. His numbers speak for themselves: a league-leading 25 double-doubles in 34 games while ranking eight in scoring (20.9 points) and second in rebounding (11.6 boards). Brown recently scored 20 points in his second D-League All-Star appearance.

Carlos Powell, Dakota Wizards G GS PPG RPG APG FG% PRA 34 34 22.2 6.6 4.6 .472 33.4 Outlook Powell has been at the top of the list for potential call-ups this season as one of the D-League's top all-around players. He is a few assists shy of joining Fort Worth's Earl Calloway as the only players in the D-League to average over 5.0 points, assists, and rebounds. The 6-7 Powell has failed to reach double figures in scoring in only two of 34 games this season.

Kasib Powell, Sioux Falls Skyforce G GS PPG RPG APG FG% PRA 31 30 20.9 5.9 2.9 .506 29.7 Outlook The current D-League Performer of the Week has been the go-to guy for Sioux Falls this season and one of the keys to their resurgence after a slow start. The former Texas Tech star is heating up as the season winds down, averaging 26.6 points and shooting .545 (12-22) from three-point range in his last five games as the Skyforce have moved into contention for the Central Division title.

D-League Centers

Lance Allred, Idaho Stampede G GS PPG RPG APG FG% PRA 33 33 16.6 10.1 1.4 .511 28.1 Outlook Allred has been a big part of Idaho's dominant season, averaging a double-double (one of only three D-League players) and earning a trip to the D-League All-Star Game. He has delivered consistent production on a daily basis for Idaho, scoring in double-figures in 28 of his 33 games. The 6-11 Allred should be on the NBA's radar as arguably the D-League's top non-assigned center.

Jelani McCoy, Los Angeles D-Fenders G MIN PPG RPG APG FG% PRA 19 8 8.4 6.8 2.4 .761 17.6 Outlook McCoy already recieved a call-up to the Nuggets earliers this season and his wealth of NBA experience and 6-10 frame puts him in demand from teams looking for frontcourt depth. McCoy leads the D-League in field goal percentrage this season, connecting on .761 (67-88) of his attempts from the field. The D-Fenders are 12-7 this season with McCoy in the lineup.