Dominiques Wilkins to Visit the Atlanta Hawks 2008 Kia Motors Summer Hoops Tour in LaGrange

Basketball Hall-of-Famer Dominique Wilkins will make a special appearance at the Atlanta Hawks 2008 Kia Motors Summer Hoops Tour stop in LaGrange on Thursday, July 24. The event will take place at the Troup County Parks & Recreation Department beginning at 10 a.m. Festivities include a youth basketball clinic led by former Hawks guard Charlie Criss, interactive elements from the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Thrashers, an appearance by Hawks mascot SkyHawk as well as the Kia Motors Summer Hoops Tour vehicle on display. Admission is free and open to the public.

This summer, the Hawks and Kia Motors America have come together to host the second Atlanta Hawks Kia Motors Summer Hoops Tour at more than 20 locations around metro Atlanta. The Tour is a free, high-energy basketball clinic that focuses on teaching the basic skills of the game to children. Each participant receives instruction on the fundamentals of basketball from former Hawks guard Charlie Criss, who will share tips designed to help participants improve their game and love of the sport. Criss also speaks on the importance of education, dedication, teamwork and responsibility and how skills developed on the court apply to everyday life. Each participant receives an autographed Charlie Criss player card and an official Atlanta Hawks 2008 Kia Motors Summer Hoops Tour hat. Visit www.hawks.com for more information.

Atlanta Hawks A-Town Dancers Final Auditions Set for Saturday at Stats Restaurant

Forty-three performers have been selected to compete in the Final Auditions for a spot on the 2008-09 Atlanta Hawks A-Town Dancers. A fun-filled weekend of events is planned with these talented individuals and all of Atlanta is invited to take part in the activities.

Tipping things off will be the sixth annual “Fabulous Finalists Mixer” on Thursday, July 17. The festivities begin at 8:30 p.m. at Atlantic Station’s Ten Pin Alley. Fans are invited to meet and mingle with each of the 43 finalists, who will be available for photos. Judges will be on-hand to determine the dancers’ ability in public speaking, poise and social aptitude. Fans are encouraged to vote for their favorite dancer through ballots distributed at the event. Admission is free.

Ten Pin Alley is located at:
261 19th St. NW
Atlanta, GA 30363
Phone: (404) 872-3364

On Saturday, July 19, the public will have the opportunity to witness the Final Auditions live and in-person (beginning at 1 p.m.). Fans are invited to Stats restaurant in downtown Atlanta, as the finalists have one more opportunity to show off their moves for a panel of judges. Following the last group of dancers, the judges will confer and the 2008-09 A-Town Dancers will be announced for the first time. V-103 personality Elle Duncan is serving as emcee for the event. Admission is again free.

Stats is located at:
300 Marietta St. NW
Atlanta, GA 30313
Phone: (404) 885-1472

Additionally, fans can help select the squad by visiting www.hawks.com and voting for their favorite dancers. Video clips and photos of each finalist are also available.

Atlanta Hawks 2008-09 season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting www.hawks.com or calling 1-866-715-1500. The Hawks, a member of the National Basketball Association since 1949, play in the Southeast Division, along with the Charlotte Bobcats, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards.

Hawks Announce Roster/Schedule for the 2008 Rocky Mountain Revue

The Atlanta Hawks will participate in the 2008 Rocky Mountain Revue in Salt Lake City, UT, July 18-25, and before departing for SLC, the team will hold three-and-a-half days of practices in Atlanta on their practice court (July 14-17).

The Hawks roster will consist of 18 players before it is pared down for the Rocky Mountain Revue, and heading up the squad are veterans Speedy Claxton, Acie Law IV, Jeremy Richardson and Mario West.

Among the notable free agents coming to Atlanta are former NBA draft picks Luke Jackson, Wayne Simien, Olumide Oyedeji and Jamal Sampson. Jackson was a former first round pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2004, Simien was selected in the first round by Miami (in 2005), while Oyedeji and Sampson were second round selections of Seattle (2000) and Utah (2002), respectively.

Following physicals on the 14th, the Hawks will hold an afternoon workout from 3-5 p.m. With two-a-days set for Tuesday and Wednesday (10-12 noon and 4-6 p.m.), the squad will hold an early-morning practice in Atlanta (9-11 a.m.) on Thursday and travel to SLC later that afternoon.

Assistant coach Larry Drew will call the shots during the Rocky Mountain Revue, as the Hawks face NBA teams Dallas (July 18, 6:30 ET), Utah (July 19, 9 ET; and July 24, 9 ET), San Antonio (July 22, 4:15 ET) and Golden State (July 25, 1 ET), in addition to an All-Star squad from the D-League (July 21, 6:30 ET).

The current roster and Rocky Mountain Revue schedule is listed below:
2008 Atlanta Hawks Summer League Roster (as of July 10, 2008)
# Player Pos Ht Wt Birthdate College/Country Yrs
8 Demetric Bennett G 6-4 205 06/25/85 South Alabama R
7 Brian Chase G 5-10 170 10/08/81 Virginia Tech 1
12 Speedy Claxton G 5-11 170 05/08/78 Hofstra 7
3 Thomas Gardner G 6-5 225 02/08/85 Missouri 1
15 Al Horford * F/C 6-10 245 06/03/86 Florida 1
41 Marcus Hubbard C 6-9 230 12/23/83 Angelo State R
50 Othello Hunter F 6-8 225 05/28/86 Ohio State R
33 Luke Jackson F/G 6-7 215 11/06/81 Oregon 4
22 Dominique Kirk G 6-4 185 05/07/86 Texas A&M R
4 Acie Law IV G 6-3 195 01/25/85 Texas A&M 1
00 Olumide Oyedeji C 6-10 240 05/11/81 Nigeria 3
11 Kevinn Pinkney F/C 6-10 245 10/2083 Nevada-Reno 1
42 Brian Randle F 6-8 220 02/08/85 Illinois R
32 Jeremy Richardson G 6-7 195 02/11/83 Delta State 2
14 Frank Robinson G 6-4 200 06/01/84 Cal State-Fullerton R
31 Jamal Sampson F/C 6-11 235 05/15/83 California 5
25 Wayne Simien F 6-9 250 03/09/83 Kansas 2
6 Mario West G 6-5 210 06/19/84 Georgia Tech 1
52 Justin Williams F/C 6-10 260 05/12/84 Wyoming 2

* Participating in mini-camp portion only.
2008 Rocky Mountain Revue Schedule – all times listed are Mountain Time

Friday, July 18 Tuesday, July 22
4:30 – Dallas vs. Atlanta 2:15 – Atlanta vs. San Antonio
7:00 – San Antonio vs. Utah 4:30 – Dallas vs. Golden State
(Bye – Golden State, New Jersey) 7:00 – New Jersey vs. Utah
(Bye – D-League All-Stars, FIBA Asian Champion)

Saturday, July 19 Wednesday, July 23
2:15 – FIBA Asian Champion vs. Dallas Off day
4:30 – D-League All-Stars vs. San Antonio
7:00 – Atlanta vs. Utah
(Bye – Golden State, New Jersey) Thursday, July 24
2:15 – D-League All-Stars vs. Golden State
Sunday, July 20 4:30 – New Jersey vs. Dallas
Off day 7:00 – Atlanta vs. Utah
(Bye – FIBA Asian Champion, San Antonio)

Monday, July 21 Friday, July 25
Noon – Dallas vs. San Antonio 11 a.m. – Golden State vs. Atlanta
2:15 – New Jersey vs. Golden State 7:00 – Dallas vs. Utah
4:30 – D-League All-Stars vs. Atlanta (Bye – D-League All-Stars, FIBA Asian Champion,
7:00 – FIBA Asian Champion vs. Utah New Jersey, San Antonio)
(Bye – none)

Auditions for Atlanta Hawks A-Town Dancers Set for Sunday, July 13

The Atlanta Hawks A-Town Dancers are looking for talented, enthusiastic individuals with a love of performing to become part of their 2008-09 squad. Preliminary auditions are slated for Sunday, July 13 at Peachtree Center Athletic Club (227 Courtland St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30303-1719). Registration begins at 10 a.m.

The Atlanta Hawks A-Town Dancers are a group of energetic, personable and talented dancers who perform at Hawks home games and hundreds of community events each year. Those planning on trying out should be at least 19 years of age and bring a recent photograph (photos will not be returned), valid driver’s license, a light lunch and drink, completed application and waiver form, and dance résumé. Attire should be a two-piece leotard, skin-toned/matte tights, socks, and sneakers or dance shoes. Cost is $25 per person to audition.

More information regarding the auditions, along with registration forms, can be found online at www.hawks.com or by calling (404) 878-3800. Final auditions are set for Saturday, July 19.

Additionally, the team will host a special “meet and greet” with the finalists on Thursday, July 17. All of Atlanta will be invited to The Fabulous Finalist Mixer at Atlantic Station’s Ten Pin Alley, where fans can meet and mingle with the dancers, who will be available for photos and autographs. More details about final auditions and The Fabulous Finalist Mixer will be released in the near future.

Preliminary auditions are closed for viewing to the general public.