Skyforce Players and Coaches on Frontlines of Excitement Surrounding New Season

Very soon the curtain will rise on a new Sioux Falls Skyforce season.  Consider this your backstage pass before the show.  

Seventeen players arrived in camp on Monday and ten active players will remain by 4pm Central Time on November 13.  There will be a lot of practice and bonding in that short time frame as opening day approaches.

Phil Weber is the man charged with conducting the on court symphony and developing player’s skills.  Right now he is eager to work with the players in camp.  At the base, talent is abundant.  Consistency for most of the players at the D-League level is the main springboard toward getting to the Association.

Listen to Phil’s comments at the Skyforce Media Day about how he sees the preseason unfolding.

Forward Henry Walker headlines the returning players for the 2014-15 Skyforce.  The former New York Knick worked together with Coach Weber at the top level so this is a reunion of sorts.  Weber was an assistant under Mike D’Antoni in Phoenix and New York.  Walker stresses that mentally playing the game at a high level is necessary to achieve personal and team goals.  Walker also looks forward to playing to raucous home crowds at the Sanford Pentagon.

For more from Walker as he gets ready for the new campaign, listen to the link below.

Center Khem Birch got all he could handle from Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade during Miami Heat training camp and preseason.  The defensive stopper is looking to expand his skill set on offense in the NBADL.  Birch knows there is still work to be done to appear on an NBA roster.  While in Sioux Falls just a short time Birch has enjoyed the experience.

Get to know Khem Birch and hear the words of encouragement Heat Coach Eric Spoelstra gave him during training camp with the big club.

Tyler Johnson has been raising eyebrows with his athleticism at college, Summer League and the NBA preseason.  The Fresno State guard was cut from his high school team and he plays with a chip on his shoulder.

The high-flying lefty has quite a story and is working on his consistency.  Learn more about Tyler Johnson by clicking on the audio link.

Sioux Falls will tussle with the Iowa Energy in Memphis on Saturday for an exhibition.  The regular season begins on November 15 in a road contest against Fort Wayne.

BONUS CLIP: Here's Tyler Johnson's aerial exploits during Summer League.