Donald Sloan tries to strip Charlotte rook Kemba Walker in Monday's preseason game./AP Photo.

Check out these articles about how current and former Erie BayHawks are doing:

Hawks blog (Atlanta Journal Constitution) – BayHawks point guard Donald Sloan was described as struggling to stop Charlotte’s D.J. Augustin in Monday night’s preseason game, but settled down later in the game.

Peachtree hoops – Former BayHawks PF Ivan Johnson had the best game of the Atlanta newcomers in Monday’s preseason game at Charlotte according to Kris Willis.

Cleveland Plain-Dealer – BayHawks  SF Mychel Thompson hopes to play for the Cavaliers in tonight’s preseason game against the Detroit Pistons at Quicken Loans Arena.

In other news, BayHawks 7-footer Chris Daniels didn’t play for the Los Angeles Lakers in Monday’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Clippers. … Former BayHawk Blake Ahearn is back with the Reno Bighorns after being waived by the Clippers. … The Denver Nuggets have a preseason game tonight against Phoenix. BayHawks SG Cory Higgins is with the Nuggets.

Charlotte Bobcats' D.J. Augustin is an emerging star PG in the NBA./AP Photo

With the NBA in lockout mode, it may be easy to forget how the 2010-11 season reestablished the league as one of the best in pro sp0rts.

While the owners and players try to work things out, here’s a look at my five favorite players who I consider to be under the radar. They can play.

Just aren’t on TV enough for people to notice or they’re playing for bad teams or they’re part of a team that’s a playoff contender or they’re one of many who excel at the same position (Hint! Hint!).

Now I tried to avoid guys who have made the all-star team. That kept hem from including Al Hortford. Guy is an very good player, but teammates Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and even Jamal Crawford get more pub than him in Atlanta.

I could have put guys like Houston Rockets forward Luis Scola on there, but people talk so much about how underrated he is, we all know who is he now.

In closing, I really wanted to put Philadelphia 76ers forward Thaddeus Young on the list, but I want to see how he does with coach Doug Collins for another season. I love Young’s game.

Look for more Top 5′s from me at www.goerie.com/blogs/giveandgo.

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