Springfield Armor Holds First Media Day

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By Ezra Broder

Story Published: Nov 17, 2009 at 8:30 PM EDT

Story Updated: Nov 17, 2009 at 8:30 PM EDT

With only 10 days until the Springfield Armor hits the court in its first game, the players and coaches held a meet and greet with the public at the local YMCA. Some of the players are no stranger to the Pioneer Valley. Some of them went to college or even high school in the area.

"I was hoping and praying that I'd be close to home, close to Connecticut and once I found out, I was ecstatic," Craig Austrie said.

Austrie played for UConn and has ties to Connecticut. So does teammate Julian Allen who is from Waterbury, CT.

"I'm very comfortable just knowing that family, home is right down the road. That makes me feel right at home actually," Allen said.

Two of the players at training camp, Dante Milligan and Maurice Maxwell, played college ball UMass.

"Most of the D-League teams are in the most random places throughout the USA, and for us guys that are here, that are familiar with this area, it helps us out a lot," Milligan said.

"I have a lot of support, a lot of people that are happy to see that I'm back, lot of friends I haven't seen in awhile. So I think once I get out there I'll be pretty comfortable, just being familiar, not being like just going to any place I've never been before," Maxwell said.

Adam Harrington went to Pioneer Valley Regional High School in the Franklin County town of Northfield.

"It's exciting. I grew up here. I have a lot of good basketball memories here as a kid, and through high school. So I'm excited to play in front of my old coaches and family and friends," Harrington said.

The season starts on Nov. 27 against Iowa.

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