Red Bull eyes NBA veteran

Grant Hill’s college roommate and former Duke University standout Antonio Lang will likely suit up for Red Bull in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Second Conference starting June 3.

Lang, 28, has played for Phoenix, Cleveland, Miami, Toronto, and Philadelphia in a six-year National Basketball Association (NBA) career. He was the Suns’ second round pick in the 1994 draft.

Import recruiter Mike Gonzalez, a Filipino based in Los Angeles, told The STAR the deal to bring Lang here is 90 percent done. "We are not too far apart in the conditions our player wants and what Red Bull is willing to offer," said Gonzalez.

Red Bull assistant team manager Andy Jao confirmed the Thunder has sent an offer to Lang. The only hitch is Lang has asked for a two-week leave in July to attend an NBA Development League camp. Jao said management is studying its options in case the Lang deal falls through. An option is to sign up last year’s high-scoring import Ray Tutt for both the Second and Third Conferences.

Lang saw action on two Duke NCAA title teams in 1991 and 1992. He played a key role in piloting the Blue Devils back to the NCAA Finals in 1994. Lang shot over 52 percent in each of his four seasons at Duke and finished his varsity career with 1,012 points in 135 games. As a senior tri-captain with Hill and Marty Clark, Lang averaged 12.5 points and 5.4 rebounds.

Writer Barry Jacobs described Lang as "a natural leader (who) can provide a stabilizing influence on younger players." The long-armed Lang was known for his athleticism and versatility in college. Jacobs’ best recollection of a Lang highlight move was when he drove from the wing and in a flash, dunked on Iowa’s 6-10 Acie Earl as a Duke junior in 1993.

The 6-8, 230-pound forward was valedictorian at LeFlore High School in Mobile, Alabama, and graduated from Duke with a double major in Economics and History.

This past season, Lang hit at a 17.8 clip and grabbed 8.7 rebounds a game for the Fort Wayne Fury in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA).