Meet the imports

In the “one-and-done” era where players do the one-year mandatory college service before applying for the NBA draft, it’s a testament to the quality of PBA imports that six of the 10 in town for the Commissioner’s Cup completed their four-year varsity eligibility. That only means this conference’s import class has an impressive history of showing a high level of responsibility.

The six imports who played four years of collegiate basketball are Barangay Ginebra’s Leon Rodgers of the University of Northern Illinois, Meralco’s Brian Butch of the University of Wisconsin, San Mig Coffee’s James Mays of Clemson University, Alaska’s Rob Dozier of the University of Memphis, Talk ‘N’ Text’s Richard Howell of North Carolina State and Globalport’s Evan Brock of the University of Alabama.

Three imports went through three years of college. San Miguel Beer’s Josh Boone played three years with the University of Connecticut varsity and was on the Huskies squad that captured the NCAA crown in 2004. Air21’s Herve Lamizana sat out his freshman year at Rutgers University to concentrate on academics then played three straight years with the varsity, finishing third all-time in blocked shots in his campus career. Barako Bull’s Joshua Dollard, a late replacement for original pick Dwayne Chism who left due to pending contractual obligations in the Hungarian league, logged three seasons at Auburn University but his varsity career was described as “turbulent.”

Dollard, 27, was suspended the last five games of his freshman year, the first six of his sophomore campaign and was dismissed from the varsity before his senior season. He missed a total of 41 games. It couldn’t be confirmed why Dollard was released even as he had only 12 hours left to gain his college degree. He was given the option to stay in school and earn his diploma but decided to transfer to the University of South Carolina at Aiken, an NCAA Division II school. There were reports that Dollard was dismissed because of “character issues.” The official school statement was he violated athletic policy.

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Rain Or Shine’s Alex McLean, 28, completed his varsity eligibility by playing two years of junior college basketball and two years of NCAA Division I hoops with Liberty University in Virginia. Only two of the 10 imports were picked in the NBA draft. Dozier, 28, was the last overall choice, the 60th, in the 2009 draft by the Miami Heat while Boone, 29, was chosen 23rd overall on the first round by the New Jersey Nets in 2006. Boone is the only import with actual NBA playing experience as he saw action in four years with the Nets up to 2009-10.

Three imports played on national teams that competed in FIBA tournaments. Butch joined ex-PBA import Donald Sloan of the Indiana Pacers and Greg Stiemsma of the New Orleans Pelicans on the US squad that finished third at the Pan-American Games in Guadalajara in 2011. Mays has played for the Central African Republic while Lamizana wore the Ivory Coast colors at the FIBA World Championships in Turkey in 2010.