TULSA 66ERS ACQUIRE STEVEN HILL AND GARY FORBES

Tulsa, Okla., January 20, 2009 – The Tulsa 66ers announced today the acquisition of center Steven Hill from the Utah Flash, and forward Gary Forbes from the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

Hill was acquired in exchange for guard Ronald Dupree, Forbes in exchange for forward Chris Ellis.

Hill (7-0, 245) signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder on November 4, 2008 and was assigned to the 66ers on November 21. He played in five games, including three starts for the 66ers, averaging 9.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per contest.

Hill was recalled to the Thunder on December 11. He averaged 2.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in one game with the Thunder.

Hill played four seasons at the University of Arkansas, averaging 4.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.11 blocks as a senior. He was named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a junior, while averaging 2.8 blocks for the Razorbacks.

In 22 games with the Skyforce, including seven starts, Forbes averaged 16.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per contest.

Forbes (6-7, 220) was the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Development League Draft by the Skyforce out of the University of Massachusetts.

He was named the Atlantic-10 Player of the Year and also selected to the All-Conference First Team as a senior. Forbes joined Julius Erving as the only players in school history to surpass the 1,000 career point mark in only two seasons.

Both players will join the 66ers on Wednesday in Rio Grande Valley. Hill will wear jersey number 99 and Forbes number 22.

Kind of surprised the 66ers let go of Dupree, the game I saw he was a scoring machine for the sixers. Nice to have Steven Hill back in the Thunder Network though.