The New York Knicks appear to be using their last two training camp spots as a revolving door for players who would play for the G League affiliate.
Shortly after waiving Quinton Rose and M.J. Walker, the Knicks announced the signings of Garrison Brooks and Noni Omot.
Brooks played two games for the Knicks in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas back last July. Omot, meanwhile, is an interesting pickup as the 6-foot-9 Sudanese forward has no prior stint with the Knicks Summer League team nor their G League affiliate.
A former JUCO player, Omot played two seasons at Baylor after spending one season at Indiana Hills Community College where he was an NJCAA honorable mention All-America and first team All-region Honors.
After going undrafted in 2018, Omot played for the Long Island Nets in the G League, then drifted overseas. He last played in Puerto Rico last season and was productive in 20 minutes of playing time, averaging 15.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists. He has also represented South Sudan in the FIBA World Cup African qualifiers emerging as the seventh best scorer of the tournament. He is averaging a team-best 14.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists for South Sudan, who are one win away from punching a ticket in the FIBA World Cup next year in the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan.
Omot produced nine points, seven rebounds and four assists in South Sudan’s narrow 69-66 loss to Senegal mentored by new Westchester Knicks coach DeSagana Diop. It was South Sudan’s only loss so far in the tournament.
Meanwhile, Brooks played his final season of eligibility in the NCAA at Mississippi State after spending four seasons with the University of North Carolina. During his junior year with the Tar Heels, Brooks was named to the ACC All-Second Team and Most Improved Player of the Year after averaging 16.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. His numbers (10.2 points and 6.9 rebounds) dropped the following year after the ACC conference media selected him as the preseason ACC Player of the Year.
At Mississippi State, Brooks averaged 10.4 points and 6.6 rebounds over 30.3 minutes in 34 starts.
Both Brooks and Momot are expected to be waived and join Rose and Walker in the Knicks G League affiliate.
Follow this writer on Twitter: @alderalmo