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Sudan-born Aussie forward Mathiang signs with Hornets

By AFP
Sudan Mangok Mathiang of the Louisville Cardinals reacts against the Michigan Wolverines in the first half during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 19, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana.  By ANDY LYONS GettyAFPFile
AUG 2, 2017 LISTEN
Mangok Mathiang of the Louisville Cardinals reacts against the Michigan Wolverines in the first half during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 19, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. By ANDY LYONS (Getty/AFP/File)

Washington (AFP) - Sudan-born Australian forward Mangok Mathiang and American guard Marcus Paige signed NBA contracts Wednesday with the Charlotte Hornets.

Mathiang lived in Melbourne for several years before moving to the United States, where he played four seasons for the University of Louisville and serving as team captain for last season's 25-9 squad.

With the Cardinals, he averaged 4.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots a game. As a senior, he averaged 7.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots

He played for the Hornets in the Orlando Pro Summer League tournament, averaging 4.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.8 offensive rebounds in five games.

Paige, who helped North Carolina to the US college finals in four seasons there, was a 2016 second-round NBA Draft pick by Brooklyn whose rights were traded to Utah. He spent most of last season on a developmental league roster.

Mathiang and Paige were the first Hornets to sign new two-way contracts that allow NBA clubs to keep rights for two players in addition to the 15-man regular-season roster.

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