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D-League lauds Frazier as MVP, top rookie Former Penn State point guard Tim Frazier was in a different part of the country, and playing in a different league, when he received some hardware from the NBA Development League. One of his trophies was for winning Rookie of the Year honors; the other was to com- memorate his selection as the league's Most Valuable Player after averaging 16.1 points, 9.5 assists and 7.1 rebounds for the Maine Red Claws. "I wish I were in Maine to be able to show this to the people there," Frazier said. "Crusteacean Nation – these two trophies go to them, for sure." It was the right thing to say, no doubt, but Frazier was probably quite happy to be in the Portland Trailblazers' locker room when he received the honors. After shining in the D-League, and starting three games during a midseason stint with the Philadelphia 76ers, Frazier has found a home in Portland, at least for the next few months. Signed in late March to fill a roster spot after a three-for-two trade, Frazier not only was set to continue with the Blazers through the duration of the playoffs – as of this writing, they were trailing the Memphis Grizzlies, 3-0, in a first-round series – but will also play on their Las Ve- gas Summer League team in July and will receive an invitation to training camp next season, coach Terry Stotts told ore- gonlive.com. "This is not a playoff move," Stotts said. "This is a moving forward move." There's been speculation that Frazier's league-minimum contract is intended to give the Blazers a bit of roster flexibility in the off-season. But he could also emerge as Damien Lillard's primary backup if Steve Blake leaves via free agency. He posted his first NBA double- double in Portland's regular-season fi- nale against Dallas, totaling 13 points and 10 assists in 30 minutes of action. With his 76ers stats included, Frazier was averaging 5.2 points and 5.5 assists per game heading into the playoffs. After his awards were announced dur- ing a team meeting at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Frazier's new teammates gathered to give him a hearty round of applause. "Great people in this organization," he said. "It was awesome." Former PSU assistant named coach at VMI Dan Earl, who starred at point guard for the Nittany Lions before spending six seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, was named head coach at VMI April 12. Earl replaces Duggar Baucom, who spent 10 seasons with the Keydets before leaving for the Citadel in March. During his assistant coaching tenure at Penn State, the Lions won the NIT cham- pionship (2009) and reached the NCAA tournament (2011). He helped develop Talor Battle into an All-Big Ten point guard and also played the leading role in recruiting Battle's successor, Tim Frazier, who also won All-Conference honors. In 2011, Earl followed Ed DeChellis to Navy, serving as associate head coach with the Midshipmen. Two years ago, Navy ranked 57th in the country in scor- ing defense and had the second-lowest turnover total in school history. Earl, 40, inherits a VMI team that went 11-19 last season. The Keydets lose four seniors to graduation but return their two leading scorers from last season in guards Tim Marshall and Julian Eleby. ■ N O T E B O O K

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