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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Injured SF Kyle Spain (knee) appears on schedule to return to the Erie BayHawks in time for the playoffs.

The Erie BayHawks had its second day of practice Wednesday afternoon at Penn State Behrend’s Junker Center heading into Game 1 of their first-round series against the Reno Bighorns at Tullio Arena.

Kyle Spain, who was waived by the team due to injury last week, was shooting jump shots after having an MRI on his left knee for chronic tendinitis. Because Erie waived him due to injury, it can bring him back.

The BayHawks have brought in forward Chaz McCrommon out of Robert Morris to replace Spain, but if Spain gets back in time before Game 1, the team will have to waive a player.

“We have to make that decision when the time came,” Erie coach Jay Larranaga said. “I honestly haven’t made any determination of what 10 we could dress for the game, but I like all 11 guys that we have. I think they all can help us in the games.”

Larranaga said he hopes Spain can return for the playoffs. After Wednesday’s practice, Spain was shooting jump shots. He’ll do a lot more Thursday.

“He said it’s feeling a little better,” Larranaga said. “We plan on testing it. Tomorrow he’ll do some individual work with (assistant Ben McDonald) and we’re hoping on Friday he’ll be able to go 5-on-5 with the team and be able to see where he’s at. I think it’s progressing good and he feels good.”

But who will Erie cut if Spain does come back as he said he would when waived Saturday morning?

It could be McCrommon, who has practiced with the BayHawks, but they may also release power forward Alton Ford,  who is a former NBA player, but hasn’t played much for Erie this season. Ford has only played seven games and scored a total of seven points in that stretch.