DETROIT, Mich. – The Motor City Cruise, NBA G League affiliate of the Detroit Pistons, announced today the club acquired guard Trae Hannibal off the available player pool. In a corresponding move, the Cruise deactivated guard Javante McCoy due to a season-ending knee injury.
Hannibal, 6-2, 221, is entering his rookie season in the NBA G League. He was selected by the Cleveland Charge in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2024 NBA G League Draft. Hannibal participated with the team’s training camp roster prior to the club’s opening night.
The Elliott, S.C., native appeared in 142 career collegiate games with LSU (2022-24), Murray State (2021-22) and South Carolina (2019-21). He most recently played for the Tigers during the 2023-24 NCAA season, where he averaged 7.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 23.2 minutes over 32 games and 6.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 22.0 minutes across 62 total games at LSU.
Prior to LSU, Hannibal appeared in 34 games with Murray State, holding averages of 9.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 21.9 minutes per game. He helped lead the Racers to their 18th NCAA Tournament with a team record of 31-3 (18-0 in Ohio Valley Conference matchups). Hannibal began his NCAA career with South Carolina, playing in 46 career games for the Gamecocks, averaging 4.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 14.3 minutes. He holds NCAA career marks of 6.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 19.5 minutes per game over 142 games.
McCoy appeared in 18 games with the Cruise before suffering a knee injury on Jan. 2 at College Park. He averaged 12.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 23.4 minutes for Motor City.
The Motor City Cruise will return to Wayne State Fieldhouse (Detroit, Mich.) to take on the Greensboro Swarm on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. ET. Swarm head coach DJ Bakker is set to make his return to take on his former club after spending his first two seasons as Motor City’s head coach (2021-23). Tickets for all Cruise games can be purchased at https://detroit.gleague.nba.com/ or by calling 313-PISTONS.
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