Kyle Spain averaged 8.1 points for Erie in 44 games last season./Photo by Jack Hanrahan/Erie Times-News

Shooters. Rebounders.

That’s how Erie BayHawks general manager of basketball operations, Allan Houston, summarized what Erie will look for in the 2011 D-League Draft, which starts Thursday at 7 p.m.

The BayHawks have the seventh and ninth pick in the first round and have two more picks in the second round. Before figuring out what they need, you got know what they got coming back.

Returning players:

PG – Blake Ahearn (27 years old, 6-2, 190, Missouri State) – Shooter. Scorer (Avg. 16.9 points in 31 games for  Erie last season, 96.2 FT%). Not a great defender, but is scrappy.

PF – Kyle Goldcamp (25 years old, 6-10, 230, Gannon) – Tough. Plays hard. Has a lefty hook, but gets garbage points. Aggressive.

SF – Kyle Spain (6-5, 210, San Diego State) – Plays on the perimeter. Has unlimited range on the jump shot. Struggles defending on perimeter.

SF Chaz McCrommon (6-6, 200, Robert Morris) – Joined Erie late last season. Only played one game for the BayHawks. Considered a solid defender and capable scorer.

Here are the free-agent invites:

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The guy can make free throws. I couldn’t, at least not better than 50-something percent.

So I decided to get some tips and advice from the all-time NCAA Division I leader in free throw shooting percentage (Shot 94.6 percent) – Erie BayHawks point guard Blake Ahearn.

Not only is he the all-time career leader in free throw percentage, Ahearn also holds the NCAA single-season record at 97.4 percent (117-of-120 in 2004-05). He started this season with the BayHawks making his first 57 attempts before missing one, but that’s nothing new to him.

At Missouri State, he made 60 consecutive free throws twice. Heading into tonight’s game at Tulsa, Ahearn 78-of-79 from the line. Check out how he helped me improve my shot from the stripe.