The opening night roster for the Iowa Energy last season has been traded, released, called up, etc. making way for a completely new fleet of athletes in Des Moines.
Iowa used their three first round draft picks to select Perry Jones lll (Baylor), Cartier Martin (Kansas State), and Rick Jackson (Syracuse).
Iowa Energy Reloaded
Cyclone fans will get another look at both Jones and Martin as they return to the heartland.
“I think it’s cool (to be back in Iowa.) When I came down, I wasn’t able to go out in college and things like that, but ever since I’ve been here, it’s been pretty cool; nice resteraunts, nice people,” Jones said.
Jones started 13 games for Oklahoma City last year, but was placed on waivers to start the season and then drafted to Iowa.
“You’ve just got to embrace every moment,” Jones said. “Somebody is taking the chance on you, and as a player there is nothing more exciting than somebody wanting you to be in a program. I know this may not be my final destination, but I need to embrace it like it is,” Jones said. “So (I’m) going to go out there and play like it’s my last game.”
The additions are all part of Iowa’s rebuilding plan that has been int he works for a season, all starting with GM Chris Makris.
“We have a GM that I think that belongs in the NBA,” Energy Head Coach Bob Donewald said of Makris. “I think he should be called up. What he did last year, as he moved assets, he kept us enough talent that we could still have a winning season. Which I think the crowd appreciated and now they get the fun part, because this is a loaded, deep roster. We have the third, fourth, and ninth pick in the draft and we’ve added Andrew Harrison who will be with us all year from Memphis.”
However, just what does that mean?
“This team has depth, a lot deeper than last year, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to wins, especially early,” Donewald said. “The one thing I caution the fans is give us some time, we’ve got to figure each other out.” There have been times in practice the second unit has knocked the socks off the first unit, and that’s going to happen early; but were building it right, we’re teaching it right and hopefully as this thing comes together, it has the chance to be very, very good.”
The Energy open the season this Saturday, November 14, when they travel to Sioux Falls and then will play their home opener next Saturday, the 21st, against Grand Rapids.
