Bradford highlights SSG hoops

By Chuck Woodling     Jul 24, 2000

Nick Bradford may have been unwanted by the Utah Jazz, but Topeka Mortgage Plus will take him anytime.

Bradford, a former Kansas University player, scored 21 points to lead TMP to a 73-57 triumph over the T.S. Jays in the championship game of the Sunflower State Games men’s college division on Sunday night in Allen Fieldhouse.

“I’m pretty worn out,” Bradford said afterward.

He should have been. Bradford had been playing basketball virtually non-stop for the last 10 days.

The 6-foot-6 Bradford played in six SSG tourney games over the weekend, starting on Friday night after he had returned from the Jazz free agent camp.

“They had 20 guys there and we had two-a-days for a week,” Bradford said. “Mostly, it was drills and fundamentals, and it was tough to adapt to some of the (NBA) rules. I got cut, but I thought I played pretty good.”

Bradford isn’t discouraged.

“I’ll keep working,” he said, “and we’ll just see what happens.”

Bradford made it happen for Mortgage Plus, fueling a defense that forced several turnovers that led to transition baskets. Four of Bradford’s nine baskets were dunks.

Mortgage Plus coach Craig Butler has his eyes on the National AAU tournament this winter and he’d love to have Bradford on his team, but Butler knows the former Jayhawk may be playing for pay instead.

“We’re hoping he’s very successful,” Butler said. “This was just to keep him sharp. This was also just for fun, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Bradford wasn’t the whole show for TMP. Andy Berlin and Todd Alexander, a couple of former Washburn University players, scored 17 and 16 points respectively.

T.S. Jays, which had stunned Kansas Pride, 58-55, in the semifinals, went flat in the title game even though the club had added former Wichita State player Darrin Williams.

Williams, younger brother of former KU player B.J. Williams, led the Jays with 20 points. Darin Meyer, a small college All-American at MidAmerica Nazarene, added 14 points. No other Jays were in double figures.

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