September 30, 2003
Hornets Sign Lang, Reid and Shirley
(New Orleans) - The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have signed
second round draft pick James Lang and free agents Kareem Reid and Paul
Shirley. Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not released. The
addition of the three players puts the Hornets' training camp roster at 17.
Lang, a 6-10, 305-pound center, was selected by the Hornets in the second round (48th overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft out of Central Park Christian School in Birmingham, Alabama. He averaged 21 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks as a senior last season and was named a 2003 McDonald's High School All-America player.
Shirley, a 6-10 forward, appeared in two games with the with the Atlanta Hawks last season after being called up from the CBA's Yakima Sun Kings, where he averaged 15.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 19 games. Shirley played from 1996-2001 at Iowa State, including two seasons (1996-97 and 1997-98) under current Hornets Head Coach Tim Floyd.
Reid, a 5-10 guard, played last season with the CBA's Grand Rapids Hoops, where he averaged 9.1 points and 5.2 assists in 23 games, and the USBL's Pennsylvania Valleydawgs, where he averaged 19.7 points, 9.6 assists and 2.4 steals in 30 games en route to earning All USBL First Team and All Defensive Team honors. He played four seasons at Arkansas (1995-99), where he finished as the school's all-time leader in assists.
Lang, a 6-10, 305-pound center, was selected by the Hornets in the second round (48th overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft out of Central Park Christian School in Birmingham, Alabama. He averaged 21 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks as a senior last season and was named a 2003 McDonald's High School All-America player.
Shirley, a 6-10 forward, appeared in two games with the with the Atlanta Hawks last season after being called up from the CBA's Yakima Sun Kings, where he averaged 15.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 19 games. Shirley played from 1996-2001 at Iowa State, including two seasons (1996-97 and 1997-98) under current Hornets Head Coach Tim Floyd.
Reid, a 5-10 guard, played last season with the CBA's Grand Rapids Hoops, where he averaged 9.1 points and 5.2 assists in 23 games, and the USBL's Pennsylvania Valleydawgs, where he averaged 19.7 points, 9.6 assists and 2.4 steals in 30 games en route to earning All USBL First Team and All Defensive Team honors. He played four seasons at Arkansas (1995-99), where he finished as the school's all-time leader in assists.
