Halifax Rainmen welcomes back Haywood Joey Haywood
Halifax Rainmen (NBL Canada) inked 30-year old former Trinidad and Tobago international point guard Joey Haywood (185-82kg-84, college: St.Mary's). It is actually his comeback to Halifax Rainmen as he played here before. Haywood has a double citizenship as he also holds Canadian passport. Haywood already started the season at U.M.F. Grindavik in Icelandic Dominos League. In four games he averaged impressive 17.5ppg, 3.5rpg and 5.8apg this season. The last season he played at Aalborg Vikings (Ligaen) in Danish league. In 30 games he was the best scorer with remarkable 25.0ppg and recorded 3.9rpg, 3.4apg and 1.2spg. A very good season in his career as he was selected to Eurobasket.com All-Danish Ligaen Honorable Mention.
The previous (12-13) season Haywood played at Halifax Rainmen. In 40 NBL Canada games he had 14.5ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.6apg and 1.1spg in 2012-13 season. A very good year in his career as he was awarded USBasket.com All-NBL Canada Domestic Player of the Year and to the All-Star Game.
Among other achievements he played in the final of NBL Canada in 2012. Haywood received also All-Atlantic Division Player of the Year award back in 2011 at his college time. Haywood was a member of Trinidad and Tobago Senior National Team in 2010.
He is a very experienced player.
Haywood graduated from Saint Mary's University in 2011 and it is his fourth season in pro basketball.
His game is described as: Joey Haywood is a lightning-fast, scoring point guard who is a nightmare to guard one-on-one. In 2014, he was the leading scorer in Denmark (25.0 PPG). Joey has an incredible handle and a first step which makes him very difficult to stay in front of. He is terrific in transition, where he gets to the rim at will, and is able to absorb contact and finish the play. Joey reads the pick-and-roll well - he turns the corner exceptionally quickly but also finds his big men and open shooters when he draws double-teams and when defenders hedge hard. If the defender goes under a screen, Joey can pull-up on a dime and knock down the three with great efficiency (40.8%). Joey is an exceptional defender, evidenced by his All-Defense Team selections in each of his first two professional seasons. Finally, Joey is a natural leader who always makes his coach's job easier and is a great role model in the community.
Macae Basquete (NBB) added to their roster 33-year old Trinidad and Tobago ex-international point guard Ian Young (191-81, college: Auburn). He played last season at Affrico Basket Firenze in Italian A2 Silver. In 7 DNA Silver games he recorded very impressive stats: 15.3ppg, 3.3rpg, 5.1apg and 1.0spg. Young also played at Aget Service (DNA Gold) in Italian league that season. In 18 games he averaged 14.4ppg, 3.1rpg and 3.2apg.
The previous (12-13) season he played at Al Ahly (Superleague) in Egypt.
In 2007 (two years after he left the college) Young was drafted by Iowa Energy (D-League) in ninth round (126th overall).
The former Auburn University star is in his tenth season in pro basketball.
The list of the past achievements is quite long as among others his team made it to the Puerto Rican BSN Cup final in 2013. Young was also voted Latinbasket.com All-CBC Championships 2nd Team back in 2009. He represented Trinidad and Tobago at the CBC Championships in Tortilla (BVI) five years ago.
Young is quite experienced player. He has played also professionally in Argentina, Bosnia, Dominican Rep., Finland (KTP-Basket), France (Quimper UJAP), Germany, Iran (Shahrdari Gorgan), Lebanon, Mexico (Lechugueros), Saudi Arabia, Venezuela (Gaiteros, Bucaneros and Estrellas Occidentales), Puerto Rico (Cangrejeros and Mets) and Dominican Republic (Indios de San Francisco).
On Young: Very strong combination guard ... very good scorer ... can play the point guard position ... very good shooter ... good ball-handler ... good defender.
By Eurobasket Data Center