Professional basketball in Utah Valley is back!

The Utah Flash return to the McKay Events Center with hopes of bringing the NBA D-League title back to Orem after falling just short last year.

UVU fans will be pleased to know that former Wolverine forward Jordan Brady will be suiting up for the Flash after spending last season playing overseas in Europe. But Brady isn’t the only player with local ties to the state.

Former BYU Cougar Lee Cummard and former Utah Ute Luke Nevill have signed with the Flash bringing the one-time rivals together. Cummard said he was looking forward to playing Nevill.

“Luke and I had some great battles over the years, but I’m excited to finally play with him, not against him,” said Cummard.  “I look forward to sharing the court with him as a friend and teammate, not an opponent.”

The team also returns many key players from that successful 2008-09 campaign that ended when the Flash lost to Colorado in the D-League Finals.

Standing out among those players is Dontell Jefferson, who played much of last season in Orem before being called up to the Charlotte Bobcats of the NBA to finish the season. The 6-5 guard out of Arkansas averaged 18 points and 5.4 assists per game to lead the offensive attack.

Also back from last year’s squad are forwards Carlos Wheeler and Bennet Davis. Sharp-shooting guard Andre Ingram will also return to the lineup.

Head coach Brad Jones will roam the sidelines-clipboard in hand-for the third straight year. Jones will be assisted by former NBA champion Mark “Mad Dog” Madsen and Kevin Young. Madsen is best known for “letting the dogs out” at a Lakers championship celebration in 2001.

As of Dec. 2, the team has posted a 2-1 record in the early going-with wins at Tulsa and Los Angeles. Jefferson has led the way for the Flash averaging 18 points per game through the three contests. Wheeler and newcomer Orien Greene have chipped in, each averaging 12 points per game.

The Flash will host the Dakota Wizards in their home opener on Dec. 7 and then welcome the Reno Bighorns to town on Dec. 11. Both games begin at 7 p.m. at the McKay Events Center.