Yatta blows past a defender at Pro City. Photo: Kevin Couliau.
Sundiata Gaines, who has terrorized New York summer leagues since graduating from Georgia in 2008, has signed a 10-day contract with the Utah Jazz, according to the team’s Web site.
Gaines had been averaging almost 25 points, five rebounds and seven assists with the Idaho Stampede of the D-league.
When I asked him about his NBA prospects for a story I wrote in the summer of 2008, he said, “I’m gonna keep working on my game. If I keep working hard, I think I can make it. G.M.’s have told me I’m talented enough.”
Best of luck to Yatta.
January 5th, 2010 at 11:18 pm
jh says:
Trevor, you called this one as you told me this summer that out of all the guys playing NYC streetball, Gains had the best chance to make it in the NBA. Good luck to him.
January 6th, 2010 at 9:21 am
Kenny Patt says:
Congrats to Yatta!!!! Sean Couch should play Mega Millions the way he predicted this. Hope he gets some run.
January 6th, 2010 at 10:30 am
True balla says:
has a good chance to stick. wes mathews has been tough but yatta has a better skill set. Sloan is tough to win over though so we shall see
January 6th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Russ M says:
I know nothing about the current situation in Utah. Is he going to get playing time, or is he going to have to earn a contract in practice?
January 6th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Brooklyn says:
Good Luck Yatta !!!
January 6th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Mike says:
Russ M:
You clearly have no idea about basketball. Do you even follow it? Of course, he will not be getting any minutes. He’s gonna be a third string guard. Look at the team and please stop asking stupid questions on a site of this caliber. On a smarter note, I think Mr. Gaines will be able to earn a spot in the league at least as a back up if not some day a starter. But not this year most likely, but he may stay on the Jazz for th entire year. Do your homework, Russ M or stay off the site.
January 6th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
Sean Couch says:
Donnie Walsh had a column in the post where he was dissing his scouts. I’m available. I think Gaines will do well.
January 6th, 2010 at 7:14 pm
Kevin Couliau says:
Go Yatta ! I discovered him last summer at ProCity, my favorite player so far. Good luck man !
January 6th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
187 says:
congradulations! well deserved, good luck and i hope you stick
January 6th, 2010 at 11:00 pm
Casey Lee says:
I covered Yatta throughout his championship run at the EBC last summer….props go to him! Hard worker who deserved that shot!
January 7th, 2010 at 1:41 am
Trevor Kapp says:
mike- i know russ personally, and he happens to know a ton about the game. if he doesn’t follow the jazz or the nba that closely, so be it. you don’t have to know the nba to know the sport, which russ definitely does.
January 7th, 2010 at 10:07 am
Kenny Patt says:
He got a nice amount of run last night. Looked a little nervous but that’s to be expected. He will have adjust to being a role player if he wants to stick.
January 7th, 2010 at 10:49 am
Russ M says:
Mike:
Shut up a**hole! Morons like you who come on the sight disrespecting people who ask legitamate questions are the ones who need to stay off the sight. Yatta played more then 20 minutes last night, stupid. Do your homework.
January 7th, 2010 at 11:58 am
Eminem says:
I just finished recording a new track and this is crazy. Russ m asked a normal question, mike. Get off his nuts. I’m sure russ m knowns ball cuz yatta played last night. By the way, go buy my new album refill available on iTunes. Shits hot. Keep shaking off the haters, russ.
January 7th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Dan says:
Mike, Russ was right cuz yatta played like 20 minutes last night. Clearly you have no idea about basketball. And don’t disrespect people that you don’t know. It’s not wise. And do me a favor, how about you don’t come on this site ever again since you were wrong about the whole yatta thing. Stick to following golf and who the next lucky hooker will be that Tiger nails. Peace, mike. Keep your head down. Keep speaking the truth, Russ. I got your back.
January 7th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Mike says:
Russ M and Trevor:
You guys have no credability and are both prolly on a computer sitting right next to each other. It’s clear you guys do not know basketball and may have never touched one. If you don’t play the game, don’t talk about the game. I didn’t have anything wrong. Step your game up and read my comments carefully before I break both ya’ll computers!
January 7th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Larry says:
Russ M and Trevor — true basketball writers. They are heroes and model Americans. And they are always right. Good work, Trevor. And Russ, I follow all your comments on different sites. The one you left on Amazon.com about how nice that 35 inch flat screen works anf fits perfectly on your wall with easy instaliation gave me chills. And I then comment on read on Youtube about that new Kid Cudi song — great stuff. Keep leaving comments, Russ, cuz ‘ you got mad followers. It’s like a cult almost. I’m drinking the Koolade as we speak!
January 7th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Danny Boy says:
I follow Russ,too, Larry. It is like a cult! You hit the nail on the head! With a hammer! LOL…Any hoo, I haven’t seen a cult as good as this since the Leprechaun DVD series. Rememember the one with Ice-T? Classic! Just like’s Russ’s comments. Keep them coming, Russ. Don’t listen to the haters! I may not be Danny Boy from Death Row, but I’ll put them thangs up and show Mike who the real clown is! Holla…Now let me serenade this site before I go to work….
“Hello darkness, my old friend
I’ve come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence
In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
‘Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence”
January 7th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Jonny says:
Russ, I follow your comments on many different sites. The one you left on Amazon. com in the customer review section of comments about the 35 inch flat screen having the right amount of pixels and being an easy instaliation was classic. And the one you left you Youtube six weeks ago about that new Snoop Dogg video saying “his hair was fresh”, gave me goosebumps. Keep them comments up cuz’ you got followers…
January 7th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Dan says:
Trevor and russ both know their stuff.
January 7th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Sean Couch says:
Post on Gaines I wrote in July –
http://www.bouncemag.com/2009/07/08/the-summer-grime-2009-whose-developing-nba-game-this-summer/
January 7th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
The Brooklyn Report says:
Yatta been killin’ since Molloy. His time has come.He was in the Class of 04 with Bassy.His Molloy team was okay in that tough CHSAA “AA” Division.At Georgia he did his thing. Remember he helped pull off their bid the NCAA Tourney. 3 games in 2 days. Good job Yatta
January 7th, 2010 at 6:18 pm
E says:
This is great news he deserves this shot now I’m rooting for Gary forbes to get his shot
January 8th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Nelson says:
I’m happy for the brother. nice to see someone get a shot. Now i’m here in utah, SLC to be exact. i can shed more light on his situation. does he have a legit shot to make stay on this team? absolutely. the jazz are really struggling now and there are some serious team chemistry issues between DWill and Boozer. Boozer ripped DWill in the papers the other night. they moved Eric Maynor who was playing well adn their 1st round pick as a salary dump. so they needed a PG badly. Ronnie Price is the only other PG on the team. he is not a true PG, nor is he the answer. i believe he signed a 2yr deal this past summer. he is more a 2 guard in a PG body. he is very athletic but not a great shooter. Gaines can really help us because he can knock down shots and that is huge. Sloan is a tough coach to get used to but if he plays hard, doesnt turn it over and plays tough d, he will get a legit shot. Utah is well known for giving young players a chance, from Raja Bell, Mo Williams, Arroyo, etc… they take kids in the 2nd round like Millsap who nobody wants too much, develop them and they do well. its very difficult to attract free agents to Utah so they try to do everything in house and keep em that way. So yatta is in a great situation. the offense is very guard heavy and will get him the open looks. as a NYer in Utah, i’m hoping he makes it. if he does i will have to get down to practice and say what up.
January 15th, 2010 at 11:04 am
Russ M says:
Hopefully last night’s buzzer-beater seals the deal for this kid!