Sept. 25, 2002

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The NBA’s Atlanta Hawks will open up their 2002-03 training camp Oct. 2-4 with five workouts at the University of South Carolina Basketball Practice Facility, Gamecock Head Coach Dave Odom announced Wednesday.

“We’re excited that the Atlanta Hawks have chosen the University of South Carolina and our practice facilities to hold their year-opening minicamp. Having an NBA team in our midst for a few days only heightens the excitement for basketball in Columbia as we approach the opening of our practice on October 12 as well as the opening of the Carolina Center in November.” Head Coach Dave Odom

After the Hawks’ media day on Oct. 1 in Atlanta, the team will travel to Columbia, where they will hold two-a-day sessions at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Wed., October 2 and Thu., October 3. The Hawks will practice at 10 a.m. Fri., October 4 before heading back to Atlanta. The practices are closed to the public.

“We’re excited that the Atlanta Hawks have chosen the University of South Carolina and our practice facilities to hold their year-opening minicamp,” said Odom. “Having an NBA team in our midst for a few days only heightens the excitement for basketball in Columbia as we approach the opening of our practice on October 12 as well as the opening of the Carolina Center in November.”

“We look forward to training at USC and using their excellent facilities, and I appreciate the support we have received from Coach Dave Odom and the staff at the university,” said Atlanta Head Coach Lon Kruger.

Kruger will welcome in a total of 18 players to training camp when it opens next week, including Glenn Robinson, obtained in a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks in the offseason. The Hawks have a Carolina connection as former Gamecock and NBA great Alex English is in his first season as Atlanta’s Director of Player Development.

South Carolina begins preparations for the 2002-03 season Oct. 12 and will play its first game in the new, 18,000-seat Carolina Center Sunday, Nov. 24 at 3 p.m. against East Tennessee State.