Fans can catch some Kings this month

For Sacramento pro basketball fans, summer started way too early with the Kings missing the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons.

However, for the 17th consecutive year, local fans can get their hoops fix with the Sacramento Professional Development League beginning Monday at Capital Christian High School. One game will be played Monday through Thursday at 7 p.m. through June. The league's All-Star Game will be held at 7 p.m. June 29.

Guss Armstead has been running the league since its inception and recently said that it long has outlasted its life expectancy.

"At the start, it was just about trying to get it working every summer," Armstead said. "The Kings have supported it, financially. (Kings basketball president) Geoff (Petrie) and those guys have cut checks to help subsidize it, and it definitely has helped."

Armstead said current Kings Kevin Martin, Justin Williams and Ronnie Price are expected to participate, as well as former Kings Bobby Jackson (New Orleans) and Matt Barnes (Warriors).

Former Syracuse standout guard Gerry McNamara, who played last season in Greece before returning to play in the NBA Development League, is looking forward to playing this season. McNamara had a sore ankle last summer but says he now is healthy.

"I have to get stronger," McNamara said Thursday morning after a workout. "That's the first and most important thing. But to get to a (NBA) camp and make a team is the goal. Get there and stay there is what it's about."

Former Washington State and Jesuit High School star Isaac Fontaine and former Oregon State and Galt High star Philip Ricci will play during the month-long league. Former Johnson High and Sacramento State standout Damond Edwards also will look to display his skills and toughness.

Armstead said 6-foot-2 guard Jamaal Tatum and 6-7 guard David Palmer will surprise fans.

"Tatum played at Southern Illinois and is very solid and defensively oriented," Armstead said. "He doesn't make a lot of mistakes. He's playing at the NBA predraft camp this week. Palmer is a 6-7 shooting guard who played at Yuba City High, American River College and Southern Utah. He's been playing in Japan the (past) two years."

Tickets are $7 per person, and kids 12 and under are admitted free. More information can be found at www.tothehoop.com or by calling (916) 508-4667.

About the writer:

• The Bee's Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com.