Photo: Los Angeles Lakers Center Larry Turner
By MIKE ORGAN, Staff Writer
Turner could help with rebounding
Former Tennessee State center Larry Turner
signed a free-agent contract Thursday with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 6-foot-11 Turner spent the summer playing for the Lakers Summer-Pro League team. He averaged 7.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in the league.
Terms of the contract were not available.
Turner, who is from Milledgeville, Ga., transferred to TSU in 2005 from Oklahoma. He averaged 5.8 points and 6.1 rebounds as a senior this past season.
Turner led the Tigers in rebounding in 11 games.
"What he has to do is go out there and do what he does best,'' TSU Coach Cy Alexander said. "And that's run the floor, rebound and play within himself. I think he's got an excellent opportunity to make the club from what I've been told by several members of (the Lakers) coaching staff."
Turner, who started in 26 of 32 games last season, improved significantly in his two seasons with the Tigers, Alexander said.
"Larry got into better condition while he was here,'' Alexander said. "Larry's biggest attribute is that he's a big-time athlete that can run. He ran the floor much better his senior year, he finished plays around the basket, and he attacked the glass much stronger. I'm also proud that he stayed and finished his degree before leaving school."
The Lakers finished the 2006-07 season 11th in the NBA in rebounding and could benefit from Turner's strength on the boards.
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