Independent Sports and Entertainment, newly formed from what was Relativity Sports, has signed a large class of NBA prospects, headed up by Kentucky forward
Skal Labissiere, a projected lottery pick, and Liga ACB forward
Juan Hernangomez, one of the top international players in this week’s draft.
Labissiere was at No. 11 and Hernangomez was at No. 20 on website DraftExpress.com’s mock draft last week.
Travis King represents Labissiere, and Aylton Tesch represents Hernangomez.
The firm also signed Brigham Young guard Kyle Collinsworth, Oregon forward Elgin Cook, South Florida center Jaleel Cousins, Memphis forward Shaq Goodwin and Ilja Gromovs, who plays forward and center for BK Jurmala in the Latvian Basketball League.
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Skal Labissiere is a “stretch forward,” says his new agent, Travis King.
Photo by: NBAE / GETTY IMAGES
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Agents King, Tesch,
Jarinn Tasi Akana and
Chris Patrick represent the players.
Dan Fegan, the firm’s president for basketball, is involved in the representation of all the players.
Labissiere’s status fell when he struggled at Kentucky after many draft analysts had projected him as the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft, but “he is the best talent in the draft,” King said.
“He’s 7 foot. He can shoot the ball from the NBA three line. He is very athletic. He is probably one of the most athletic of the big men,” King said.
Labissiere is not a center or a power forward but a “stretch forward,” King said. “That is the new position in the NBA. There’s not a lot of power players in the NBA anymore. There’s no more Charles Oakleys and guys who play with their backs to the basket. The game has changed to more of a European style of play where there is more of a premium of big guys who can shoot the ball from the outside.”
Labissiere has an unusual background. Born in Haiti, he and his family were caught in the earthquake there in 2010, when more than 100,000 people perished. “He was buried underground with his family for more than seven hours,” King said. “He is probably the most intriguing player in the draft.”
King said clubs holding the Nos. 4 to 10 picks have indicated interest in him.
In addition to this class, King recently signed Denver Nuggets guard Will Barton for representation. Barton was formerly represented by Impact Sports.
> TLA SIGNS FIRST LACROSSE CLIENT: The Legacy Agency has signed Chesapeake Bayhawks midfielder Myles Jones, the No. 1 pick in this year’s Major League Lacrosse draft, and a player who has received publicity not only because of his talent but also for his passion for bringing more African-American players to the sport.
TLA partner Russ Spielman will represent Jones, who is the agency’s first lacrosse client. Spielman said he signed Jones because the sport continues to grow in popularity in the United States but also because of who Jones is as a player and a person.
“He is so smart and charismatic, plus his opportunity to help grow the game and attract new players and fans drew us to him,” Spielman said. “We’re excited to support Myles in his passion to help diversify the game and work with young children from urban communities.”
Jones, who is African-American, grew up on Long Island, N.Y., and attended Duke. He has been active in trying to bring lacrosse to African-American kids in the inner city and has participated in lacrosse clinics in Harlem, Brooklyn and Baltimore.
In a first-person piece he wrote for The Players’ Tribune, Jones noted that the sport is historically white. “I also have a responsibility to bring more kids like me into this sport,” he wrote.
Spielman said he plans to start looking to sign Jones to endemic deals — shoe, apparel and equipment — before expanding into other categories.
Not many MLL players have major agencies representing them, but one who does is New York Lizards midfielder Paul Rabil, who is represented by Octagon’s Erin Kane.
Liz Mullen can be reached at lmullen@sportsbusinessjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @SBJLizMullen.
