Last Updated on September 27, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

The Albuquerque Thunderbirds took a step forward in 2008-09, improving to 24-26 after missing the playoffs the previous year. Under head coach John Coffino, Albuquerque fielded one of the D-League’s more productive offensive teams, playing at an up-tempo pace and relying heavily on the backcourt leadership of Will Conroy, who led the club in both scoring and assists. Veteran contributors such as Keith McLeod, David Noel, and Jasper Johnson helped give the roster experience, while NBA-assigned talent periodically added another dimension to the rotation. Although defensive consistency remained an issue, the Thunderbirds stayed in the playoff race throughout the season and finished third in the Southwest Division, providing a more encouraging campaign than the one that preceded it.

Roster

NO. PLAYER NAME POS HT WT DATE OF BIRTH COLLEGE
0 Steven Allen C 6 ft 10 in 242 lbs March 8, 1983 Clemson
7 Majic Dorsey G 6 ft 0 in 185 lbs August 5, 1981 Brevard College
10 Will Conroy G 6 ft 2 in 195 lbs December 8, 1982 Washington
11 Keith McLeod G 6 ft 2 in 190 lbs November 5, 1979 Bowling Green
12 Cheyne Gadson G 6 ft 3 in 190 lbs July 17, 1980 Oklahoma State
14 Antoine Agudio G 6 ft 3 in 185 lbs January 20, 1985 Hofstra
15 Kris Clack G/F 6 ft 5 in 230 lbs July 6, 1977 Texas
19 Mark Walters G 6 ft 3 in 220 lbs October 25, 1982 New Mexico
23 David Monds F/C 6 ft 8 in 240 lbs October 10, 1983 Oklahoma State
24 Fred Gibson G 6 ft 4 in 185 lbs October 26, 1981 Georgia
33 Cory Underwood F/C 6 ft 10 in 235 lbs February 13, 1980 Wagner
33 James Wright G 6 ft 0 in 165 lbs June 26, 1981 Colorado
34 David Noel F 6 ft 6 in 223 lbs February 27, 1984 North Carolina
41 Mouhamed Sene C 6 ft 11 in 230 lbs May 12, 1986 None
42 Antonio Meeking F/C 6 ft 8 in 245 lbs August 24, 1981 Louisiana Tech
44 Brad Stricker F/C 6 ft 11 in 260 lbs July 16, 1977 Georgia State
44 Toree Morris C 6 ft 10 in 275 lbs April 13, 1982 Pittsburgh
99 Jasper Johnson F 6 ft 7 in 275 lbs May 21, 1983 Delta State

Per Game

PLAYER POS AGE GP GS MPG PPG RPG APG SPG BPG TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Will Conroy G 26 49 49 44.9 26.5 4.8 8.0 1.9 0.0 4.2 18.7 9.0 .481 5.7 2.0 .345 9.4 6.6 .702
Jasper Johnson F 25 45 33 32.7 17.7 8.4 2.7 1.6 0.7 2.6 13.5 6.7 .497 1.5 0.7 .464 4.0 3.6 .899
David Noel F 24 32 31 41.0 18.1 5.9 4.3 2.5 0.6 3.3 13.8 6.9 .501 3.6 1.4 .404 3.6 2.8 .783
Keith McLeod G 29 36 34 38.3 14.1 3.1 4.4 1.6 0.1 2.3 10.5 4.3 .405 3.2 1.1 .333 5.7 4.6 .801
David Monds F/C 25 31 28 33.5 13.4 9.5 0.9 0.9 1.2 2.2 9.9 5.6 .569 0.1 0.0 .000 3.3 2.2 .663
Antoine Agudio G 24 26 10 32.3 14.8 3.1 1.4 1.8 0.1 1.7 10.6 5.2 .486 4.6 2.0 .429 3.2 2.6 .817
Cory Underwood F/C 28 20 16 25.1 11.1 4.8 1.0 0.7 0.4 1.2 9.0 4.5 .497 0.0 0.0 3.5 2.2 .614
Mark Walters G 26 43 10 14.6 4.8 2.6 0.9 0.9 0.1 0.5 4.0 1.8 .465 0.9 0.3 .282 1.4 0.9 .629
Antonio Meeking F/C 27 15 7 33.4 13.6 5.7 1.7 0.8 0.2 2.6 11.1 4.3 .392 1.5 0.3 .182 6.5 4.7 .714
Fred Gibson G 27 30 1 12.7 5.0 1.9 0.6 0.7 0.2 0.8 3.6 2.0 .550 0.6 0.2 .368 1.2 0.8 .686
James Wright G 27 19 1 16.6 5.6 1.2 1.0 0.3 0.1 1.0 4.8 2.5 .522 0.8 0.2 .200 0.7 0.4 .571
Mouhamed Sene F 22 10 9 30.3 10.0 10.4 0.6 0.9 3.7 1.2 8.5 4.3 .506 0.0 0.0 2.6 1.4 .538
Cheyne Gadson G 28 5 5 36.4 16.0 2.4 3.0 1.2 0.0 5.4 14.4 5.4 .375 3.0 1.0 .333 5.0 4.2 .840
Steven Allen C 25 44 4 7.6 1.7 1.8 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.5 2.0 0.7 .372 0.0 0.0 0.6 0.2 .321
Kris Clack G/F 31 9 2 20.8 7.3 3.1 1.1 1.3 0.3 1.1 4.4 2.1 .475 0.6 0.0 .000 4.2 3.1 .737
Majic Dorsey G 27 5 0 16.2 12.8 1.0 0.8 0.8 0.2 0.8 9.8 5.0 .510 1.2 0.4 .333 2.6 2.4 .923
Brad Stricker F/C 31 20 9 14.6 2.8 2.7 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.5 2.0 1.1 .538 0.1 0.0 .000 1.5 0.7 .433
Toree Morris C 26 9 1 14.3 3.3 3.3 0.0 0.1 0.9 1.2 2.3 0.9 .381 0.0 0.0 2.0 1.6 .778

Totals

PLAYER POS AGE GP GS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TOV FGA FGM FG% 3PA 3PM 3P% FTA FTM FT%
Will Conroy G 26 49 49 2199 1300 233 391 93 2 206 915 440 .481 281 97 .345 460 323 .702
Jasper Johnson F 25 45 33 1471 797 378 123 70 33 115 608 302 .497 69 32 .464 179 161 .899
David Noel F 24 32 31 1312 580 188 137 80 18 104 443 222 .501 114 46 .404 115 90 .783
Keith McLeod G 29 36 34 1377 509 111 157 59 4 82 378 153 .405 114 38 .333 206 165 .801
David Monds F/C 25 31 28 1040 415 294 28 28 36 67 306 174 .569 3 0 .000 101 67 .663
Antoine Agudio G 24 26 10 839 386 81 36 46 2 43 276 134 .486 119 51 .429 82 67 .817
Cory Underwood F/C 28 20 16 502 221 96 20 13 7 23 179 89 .497 0 0 70 43 .614
Mark Walters G 26 43 10 628 208 111 40 39 6 22 170 79 .465 39 11 .282 62 39 .629
Antonio Meeking F/C 27 15 7 501 204 86 26 12 3 39 166 65 .392 22 4 .182 98 70 .714
Fred Gibson G 27 30 1 382 151 56 19 21 7 23 109 60 .550 19 7 .368 35 24 .686
James Wright G 27 19 1 316 107 22 19 6 1 19 92 48 .522 15 3 .200 14 8 .571
Mouhamed Sene F 22 10 9 303 100 104 6 9 37 12 85 43 .506 0 0 26 14 .538
Cheyne Gadson G 28 5 5 182 80 12 15 6 0 27 72 27 .375 15 5 .333 25 21 .840
Steven Allen C 25 44 4 335 73 81 8 10 11 21 86 32 .372 0 0 28 9 .321
Kris Clack G/F 31 9 2 187 66 28 10 12 3 10 40 19 .475 5 0 .000 38 28 .737
Majic Dorsey G 27 5 0 81 64 5 4 4 1 4 49 25 .510 6 2 .333 13 12 .923
Brad Stricker F/C 31 20 9 291 55 54 5 5 9 9 39 21 .538 1 0 .000 30 13 .433
Toree Morris C 26 9 1 129 30 30 0 1 8 11 21 8 .381 0 0 18 14 .778

HeatingUp Impact Index: Team Impact Spotlight

PLAYER NAME ROLE TIER MPG USAGE TIER PPG RPG APG STK IMPACT INDEX NOTES AWARDS
Will Conroy Primary Offensive Engine (1.1) 44.9 High (1.2) 26.5 4.8 8.0 1.9 108.77 As Albuquerque’s primary ball-handler, Conroy controlled the offense with a heavy pick-and-roll and transition burden, and contemporary coverage described him as one of the D-League’s most productive players while highlighting his scoring and playmaking. His January stretch produced 26.7 points and 8.2 assists per game, and he repeatedly carried late possessions. Seattle Weekly: Will Conroy and the D-League All-Star Game D-League All-Star (2009); D-League Player of the Month (January 2009); All-NBA D-League First Team (2009); Jason Collier Sportsmanship Award (2009); D-League H-O-R-S-E Champion (2009)
David Noel Two-Way Wing Creator (1.1) 41.0 High (1.2) 18.1 5.9 4.3 3.1 82.90 Noel functioned as a big two-way wing who could attack from the perimeter, rebound across positions and make secondary reads. His season was interrupted by a March trade to Reno, but before the move he was trusted with major minutes and could swing games as a scorer, rebounder and connector. Tar Heel Times: David Noel Basketball News None
Jasper Johnson Interior Scoring Focal Point (1.1) 32.7 High (1.2) 17.7 8.4 2.7 2.3 82.10 Johnson gave the Thunderbirds a powerful interior scoring option who could also dominate the glass. In January, he was described as a key frontcourt presence during Albuquerque’s late-game battles, while his February surge was even more pronounced: he earned Player of the Month after averaging 26.9 points and 11.1 rebounds over seven games. OurSports Central: Jasper Johnson Named D-League Player of the Month D-League Player of the Month (February 2009)
David Monds Starting Rebounding Anchor (1.05) 33.5 Medium (1.1) 13.4 9.5 0.9 2.1 59.83 Monds supplied the interior balance behind Albuquerque’s perimeter-heavy attack, operating as a physical rebounder and efficient finisher around the basket. His 9.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in the supplied season line fit the role of a dependable interior anchor rather than a high-volume creator. Los Angeles Lakers: David Monds Training Camp Signing None
Keith McLeod Veteran Floor General (1.05) 38.3 Medium (1.1) 14.1 3.1 4.4 1.7 53.82 McLeod provided veteran point-guard control alongside Conroy, helping organize possessions while still carrying meaningful scoring responsibility. A January Thunderbirds report highlighted his ability to create for Noel, including an out-of-bounds alley-oop, showing how his value extended beyond simply initiating sets. OurSports Central: T-Birds Clipped by Toros None
Cheyne Gadson Secondary Pick-and-Roll Creator (1.05) 36.4 Medium (1.1) 16.0 2.4 3.0 1.2 52.21 Gadson was a combo guard used to generate offense when the primary creators were unavailable, with enough shooting range to stretch the defense and enough handle to attack. His short Albuquerque stint came amid roster movement, so the five-game sample reflects a temporary but fairly aggressive offensive role. RealGM: Cheyne Gadson Player Profile None
Mouhamed Sene Rim-Protecting Centerpiece (1.0) 30.3 Low (1.0) 10.0 10.4 0.6 4.6 51.20 Sene immediately changed Albuquerque’s defensive geometry with his length and shot-blocking instincts. After joining the Thunderbirds late in the season, he averaged 3.7 blocks in the supplied sample and was subsequently called up to New York, making his role much more about rim deterrence and interior control than offensive creation. InsideHoops: Knicks Sign Mouhamed Sene None
Antonio Meeking Physical Frontcourt Finisher (1.05) 33.4 Medium (1.1) 13.6 5.7 1.7 1.0 50.82 Meeking brought a physical inside-out frontcourt game, using his size to finish possessions and compete on the glass while offering enough passing to keep the offense moving. His midseason move from Reno to Albuquerque also put him into a more substantial Thunderbirds rotation, where he was used as a rugged complementary scorer. OurSports Central: 2009 D-League All-Star Replacements D-League All-Star (2009); All-NBA D-League Honorable Mention (2009)
Antoine Agudio Movement Shooting Specialist (1.05) 32.3 Medium (1.1) 14.8 3.1 1.4 1.9 48.97 Agudio’s value came largely from perimeter shot-making and movement offense, giving Albuquerque another player defenses could not comfortably leave outside. His 42.9% three-point shooting in the supplied line is consistent with a spacing role that complemented the Thunderbirds’ ball-dominant guards. FIBA: Antoine Agudio Profile None
Cory Underwood Starting Interior Presence (1.05) 25.1 Low (1.0) 11.1 4.8 1.0 1.1 37.80 Underwood operated as a physical interior option rather than a perimeter creator, giving Albuquerque size around the paint and a dependable rebounding presence. His season was cut short by a January contract termination, which helps explain the limited sample and the uneven role across the year. RealGM: Cory Underwood Player Profile None
Majic Dorsey Instant-Offense Reserve (1.05) 16.2 Low (1.0) 12.8 1.0 0.8 1.0 32.76 Dorsey was the kind of reserve who could change the pace quickly when inserted into the backcourt. His Albuquerque stint was brief, and the small sample suggests a scoring-first reserve assignment rather than sustained primary creation. RealGM: Majic Dorsey Player Profile None
Kris Clack Defensive Utility Wing (1.0) 20.8 Low (1.0) 7.3 3.1 1.1 1.6 26.20 Clack’s veteran value was tied to physical wing defense, rebounding and opportunistic playmaking more than volume scoring. Contemporary game coverage showed him contributing in short bursts, including a 9-point, 5-rebound outing before his role settled into reserve minutes. RealGM: Kris Clack Game Log None
Mark Walters Reserve Scoring Guard (1.0) 14.6 Low (1.0) 4.8 2.6 0.9 1.0 18.60 Walters filled a flexible reserve role on a roster built around several high-usage guards, with his best value coming when he could attack open opportunities rather than manufacture the offense himself. His season included stretches of increased minutes when Albuquerque needed additional perimeter production. NBA Official Game Report: Thunderbirds at Flash None
Fred Gibson Defensive Rotation Guard (1.0) 12.7 Low (1.0) 5.0 1.9 0.6 0.9 16.80 Gibson provided athletic depth on the perimeter and was capable of making an impact without a large offensive workload. In a January comeback win, he supplied a late go-ahead basket after a broken possession, illustrating the opportunistic role he could fill from the rotation. OurSports Central: T-Birds Clipped by Toros None
James Wright Backup Point Guard (1.0) 16.6 Low (1.0) 5.6 1.2 1.0 0.4 16.40 Wright served as secondary ball-handling depth behind Albuquerque’s established guard rotation, with the emphasis on keeping possessions organized rather than carrying scoring responsibility. His modest usage and assist rate point to a stabilizing reserve function. NBA Official Game Report: Thunderbirds at Flash None
Toree Morris Reserve Rim Protector (1.0) 14.3 Low (1.0) 3.3 3.3 0.0 1.0 15.20 Morris was used primarily for size, interior defense and rebounding when Albuquerque needed another body around the rim. His reserve minutes were limited, but his role was clearly functional rather than creation-oriented. RealGM: Austin Spurs at New Mexico Thunderbirds None
Brad Stricker Frontcourt Depth Piece (1.0) 14.6 Low (1.0) 2.8 2.7 0.3 0.8 13.20 Stricker occupied a depth-big role, bringing size and rebounding while rarely being asked to initiate offense. His value was situational, particularly when the Thunderbirds needed another physical body inside. NBA Official Game Report: Thunderbirds at Flash None
Steven Allen Energy Reserve Center (1.0) 7.6 Low (1.0) 1.7 1.8 0.2 0.5 8.40 Allen’s minutes were largely situational, with his responsibilities centered on interior size, screening and rebounding rather than touches. The limited contemporary coverage makes his season role less documented than Albuquerque’s main rotation players. NBA Official Game Report: Thunderbirds at Flash None
TEAM TOTALS TEAM TOTALS 465.3 — 198.6 75.7 32.9 28.1 775.98 Combined player lines from the supplied 2008-09 Albuquerque Thunderbirds regular-season dataset. —