April 26, 2011

CHICAGO -Former UIC men's basketball standout Scott VanderMeer is making the most of his opportunity at the next level. The 7-foot center from Dyer, Ind., currently plays for the Iowa Energy, which is off to a 1-0 series lead in the NBDL Finals against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

The Energy opened the playoffs with a first-round win over Utah, outlasting the Flash in the deciding third game. They swept the Tulsa 66ers in the second-round, and got off to a 1-0 series lead over Rio Grande with a 123-106 victory on Sunday. Game two is set for Wednesday night beginning at 7 p.m., at Wells Fargo Arena.

During the playoffs, VanderMeer is averaging 13.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 47.1 percent from the field - he has started all six contests. In the regular season, VanderMeer scored 4.2 points and corralled 3.9 rebounds per contest in 37 games played.

VanderMeer finished his career (2006-09) as UIC's single-season (111; 2006-07) and career leader (273) in blocked shots. He was a three-time Horizon League All-Defensive Team selection, and currently ranks eighth all-time with 703 career rebounds.

The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA's official minor league. Featuring 16 teams with direct affiliations to NBA franchises, the NBA D-League is a proven developer of talent: 20 percent of players in the NBA at the conclusion of the 2009-10 season boasted NBA D-League experience.

Stay tuned to UICFlames.com and "Flame Throwers" for details surrounding VanderMeer and the Iowa Energy's run in the NBDL Finals.