HEAT Signs Former AAMU's Gladness To 10-Day Contract

MICKELL GLADNESS
6'-11" 220 CENTER
MIAMI HEAT

MIAMI, Florida – The Miami HEAT announced Sunday that they have signed center Mickell Gladness to a 10-day contract. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Gladness appeared in six games with the HEAT this season, after previously being signed by Miami on December 10, 2011, totaling two points, eight rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block in 21 minutes of action while connecting on his only shot from the field before being waived on February 7, 2012. Prior to that stint, Gladness was signed by the HEAT on September 27, 2010, playing in two games on the HEAT’s 2010 summer league squad, totaling eight points, five rebounds, two steals and a block in 28:53 minutes of action while shooting 2-of-4 from the field and 4-of-5 from the foul line before being waived on October 11, 2010.

Gladness, a member of the 2010 NBA Development League Champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers, has appeared in 81 career NBA D-League games (20 starts) and averaged 4.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.41 blocks and 13.9 minutes while shooting 57 percent from the field and 60.7 percent from the foul line.

During his collegiate career, Gladness appeared in 85 games (83 starts) at Alabama A&M and averaged 7.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.66 blocks and 26.8 minutes. He was named as the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year while also earning All-SWAC First Team honors in both his junior and senior seasons. He finished his junior season with 188 total blocks, the third most in NCAA history, including a game in which he set a new NCAA single-game record after blocking 16 shots vs. Texas Southern on Feb. 24, 2007.

The Miami HEAT is proud to have ASSIST-CARD as the Presenting Sponsor for the 2011-12 season.

From Miami Heat Press Release

The Scoop: The Heat waived Gladness last Tuesday to prevent his contract from becoming fully guaranteed. NBA teams can sign players for up to two 10-day deals. The Heat are officially one roster slot below the NBA limit of 15, which provides the team with the option of signing a higher profile player in the coming weeks, if any come available.  Worst case for Gladness -- he goes back to his NBA Developmental League team Rio Grande Valley and continues to work hard on becoming a better-stronger player. Best case scenario, (a) he is signed for the remainder of season by Heat; or (b) is signed to an active roster slot by another NBA team.

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