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Via the Orlando Magic:

The National Basketball Association today released its 2011-12 schedule and announced the Orlando Magic will open its 23rd season on Wednesday, November 2 at Amway Center against Charlotte. Tip-off is 7 p.m.

Orlando Magic season tickets, partial plans, group and single-game Amway Center suite rental opportunities are on sale now. Ticket highlights include: 2,500 seats priced $20 or less, 8,000 seats priced $40 or less and 9,000 seats priced $50 or under. Single-game tickets will go on sale in October. A limited number of season tickets are available through the Orlando Magic Box Office by calling 407-89-MAGIC or visiting orlandomagic.com. Fans will receive refunds, with interest, in the event games are missed because of the NBA work stoppage.

Orlando opens training camp on October 4 at Amway Center. The Magic’s complete regular season schedule is available through their official website: orlandomagic.com. The entire NBA schedule can be found on the league’s official website: NBA.com.

The 61st NBA All-Star Game will be played on Sunday, February 26 at Amway Center, which will also host the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam on Friday, February 24 and NBA All-Star Saturday Night presented by State Farm on Saturday, February 25. NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas, the hugely successful interactive basketball celebration, will be held at the Orange County Convention Center.

On March 7-8, Orlando will travel to London, England for a pair of regular season games against the New Jersey Nets. Both games will be played at London’s O2 Arena. It marks the second time in franchise history that the Magic will have regular season games scheduled outside of the United States. In 1996-97, Orlando also played New Jersey in a pair of contests in Tokyo, Japan.

Orlando has 14 national television games scheduled. The Magic will appear once on ABC (February 19 @ Miami), five times on ESPN and eight times on TNT.

The Magic’s local broadcast schedule will be released at a later date.

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Photo taken by Gary Bassing

Via the Orlando Magic:

On Tuesday, June 28, Orlando Magic guard J.J. Redick appeared at his Orlando Magic basketball camp at the Orlando Sports Center. J.J. Redick’s 2011 Orlando Magic Basketball Camp is a unique camp experience that allows youth basketball

players the opportunity to learn alongside an NBA pro. The week-long camp features appearances by Redick, expert camp instruction provided by trainers from the National Basketball Academy, daily giveaways, prizes and awards, a team photo with Redick and other special appearances by other Orlando Magic celebrities, including Magic alumni and the Orlando Magic Dancers.

The Orlando Magic Youth Basketball camps and clinics, presented by UnitedHealthcare, are some of the nation’s premiere youth basketball programs. Coaches from the National Basketball Academy will help camp participants learn the fundamentals of the game while encouraging them to experience the joy of competition.

This year’s summer programs include the new Ryan Anderson and J.J. Redick basketball camps, 15 different week-long day camp options all across Central Florida, the 2011 Orlando Magic overnight basketball camp at Warner University, the new all-girls half-day camp and the 2011 Orlando Magic “mini” camp.

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Via the Orlando Magic:

The Orlando Magic selected guard DeAndre Liggins in the second round (53rd overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft.

Liggins (6’6”, 209, 3/31/88) appeared in 100 career games at the University of Kentucky, averaging 5.8 ppg., 3.0 rpg. and 2.1 rpg. in 21.9 minpg. during his collegiate career. As a junior (2010-11), Liggins played in 38 games, averaging 8.6 ppg., 4.0 rpg., 2.5 apg. and 1.2 stlpg. in 31.6 minpg. He also shot .391 (36-92) from three-point range.

Liggins was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team in 2010-11, and was also named to the NCAA East Region All-Tournament Team, helping the Wildcats reach the 2011 NCAA Final Four. Kentucky also reached the Elite Eight during Liggins’ sophomore season (2009-10).

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Via the Orlando Magic:

The Orlando Magic have acquired the draft rights to forward/center Justin Harper (32nd overall of the 2011 NBA Draft) in exchange for two future second round draft picks.

Harper (6’10”, 225, 8/30/89) appeared in 137 career games at the University of Richmond, averaging 10.6 ppg. and 4.8 rpg. in 22.9 minpg. during his collegiate career. He also shot .382 (179-468) from three-point range. As a senior (2010-11), Harper played in 37 games, averaging 17.9 ppg., 6.9 rpg., 1.2 apg. and 1.2 blkpg. in 31.8 minpg. He was named First Team All-Atlantic 10, leading the Spiders in both scoring and rebounding. Harper scored 20-plus points 14 times, including a career-high 30 points against George Washington.

Harper leaves Richmond ranked fifth all-time in school history with 179 three-pointers made. He also ranks seventh all-time with 113 blocked shots and 11th all-time with 1,457 points.

Photo by Gary Bassing

Via the Orlando Magic:

On Tuesday, June 21, Orlando Magic forward Ryan Anderson appeared at his Orlando Magic basketball camp at the Orlando Sports Center. Ryan Anderson’s 2011 Orlando Magic Basketball Camp is a unique camp experience that allows youth basketball players the opportunity to learn alongside an NBA pro. The week-long camp features appearances by Anderson, expert camp instruction provided by trainers from the National Basketball Academy, daily giveaways, prizes and awards, a team photo with Anderson and other special appearances by other Orlando Magic celebrities, including Magic alumni and the Orlando Magic Dancers.

The Orlando Magic Youth Basketball camps and clinics, presented by UnitedHealthcare, are some of the nation’s premiere basketball youth programs. Coaches from the National Basketball Academy will help camp participants learn the fundamentals of the game while encouraging them to experience the joy of competition.

This year’s summer programs include the new Ryan Anderson and J.J. Redick basketball camps, 15 different week-long day camp options all across Central Florida, the 2011 Orlando Magic overnight basketball camp at Warner University, the new all-girls half-day camp and the 2011 Orlando Magic “mini” camp.

Via the Orlando Magic:

In the past year alone, Orlando Magic President Alex Martins not only oversaw the finishing touches on the construction and grand opening of the dazzling Amway Center, but he also served in a leadership role for a franchise that set new highs for season tickets sold and won at least 50 games for a fourth consecutive season.

So it’s easy to see why Martins’ impressive profile continues to rise among the most important and influential leaders in Orlando and Central Florida. Already named the Rotary Club of Orlando’s Outstanding Business Professional of the Year, Martins has climbed to third overall in Orlando Magazine’s eighth annual list of The Most Powerful People in Orlando. The July edition of the magazine will soon be released, revealing Martins ranking one spot ahead of close friend, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.

Martins, 47, is the highest ranking private citizen on the list. Newly elected Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs is first in Orlando Magazine’s “Most Powerful People’’ rankings, while Speaker of the Florida House, Dean Cannon, is second. Martins moved up to third on the list after being ranked seventh a year ago.

Earlier this year, Martins ranked at No. 7 on the Orlando Sentinel’s most powerful people list. Magic superstar center Dwight Howard climbed to No. 26 on the Orlando Magazine “Most Powerful People’’ list after coming in at No. 39 a year ago. Howard was an All-Star for a fifth consecutive season, while averaging a career-best in scoring (22.9 points per game) and becoming the first player in history to win the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award three straight years.

Fernando Medina/Orlando Magic

Via the Orlando Magic:

When it opened last October, Orlando’s Amway Center was widely hailed as the finest arena not only in the NBA, but in all of North America. And largely because of the dazzling new facility – not to mention the game-day promotions and friendly, accessible environment – the Orlando Magic’s overall stadium experience was lauded recently by ESPN The Magazine.

ESPN’s ninth annual Ultimate Standings ranked the Magic’s stadium experience the best in the NBA and fifth overall among all teams from the NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA. The Magic beat out Portland, Memphis, Chicago, San Antonio and Dallas for top honors in the NBA. They trailed only the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco Giants, Minnesota Twins and Pittsburgh Penguins in overall stadium experience among all professional teams.

The Magic continued to score well in the overall rankings and continue to be one of the best franchises in all major sports when it comes to serving their fans.

The Magic ranked as the 16th best franchise overall and fourth best in the NBA when it comes to measuring how much a franchise gives back to fans in exchange for the time and money that they invest. The rankings were devised based on factors such as bang for the buck, fan relations, ownership, affordability, stadium experience, players, coaching and being on track to win a championship.

The Magic continued to earn high marks in several key categories – bang for the buck (fifth among NBA teams), fan relations (sixth among NBA teams), affordability (seventh among NBA teams), stadium experience (first among NBA teams), ownership (seventh among NBA teams), players (12th in the NBA), coaching (ninth in the NBA) and being on a title track (ninth in the NBA).

The Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers won the overall award – one in which the Magic were ranked second a year ago. The San Antonio Spurs were the highest ranked NBA team in the overall standings, ranking fifth this year.

Photo by Gary Bassing

Via the Orlando Magic:

On Tuesday, June 14 the Orlando Magic, in partnership with Florida Hospital and the Florida Partnership to End Childhood Hunger, kicked off an awareness campaign promoting “Summer Break Spots” with an event featuring Magic guard J.J. Redick, Magic Community Ambassadors Nick Anderson and Bo Outlaw, STUFF the Magic Mascot and Magic Dancers. In an effort to provide food for every child throughout the summer, the Magic is helping spread the word on Summer Break Spot sites throughout Central Florida. Summer Break Spots are part of the federally-funded Summer Nutrition Programs, which provide nutritious meals and snacks to low-income children during the summer months. This program is falling increasingly short of meeting the needs of disadvantaged children due to lack of awareness. Redick, Anderson and Outlaw spent time speaking to the youth about living a healthy lifestyle and eating right all summer long. Then Anderson and Outlaw held a mini-basketball camp with the kids followed by lunch.

Fernando Medina/Orlando Magic

Via the Orlando Magic:

During its annual Business Professionals of the Year Awards, the Rotary Club of Orlando recognizes outstanding business professionals for their impact to the local community via their work, ethics and dedication to philanthropy. This year, the Club honored Orlando Magic President Alex Martins for his commitment to the Central Florida community.

Criteria to be considered for the award include excellence in the nominee’s vocation, leadership abilities, commitment to community outreach and philanthropic service throughout the Central Florida area.

“Martins’ vision, leadership, creativity and integrity took the Orlando Magic to new heights in 2010,” said Eric Schrek, committee chairman for the award selection process. “Not only has he taken that organization to the next level, but he’s continued to show his commitment to the Central Florida community through participation in many local organizations and worthy causes.”

The Rotary Club of Orlando is not the only organization to recognize Martins for his impact on the Central Florida community this year. Orlando Magazine ranked Martins #11 in it 2010 “50 Most Powerful People” list and the Orlando Sentinel ranked him seventh on its annual list of top power players.

Photo by Gary Bassing

Via the Orlando Magic:

As the school year winds down, the Blessings in a Backpack program will take a brief hiatus. However, the program was a huge success because of Magic All-Star Dwight Howard, school staff and Magic volunteers. Through their collective efforts the program assisted students at Lake Como and Kaley Elementary. The Blessings in a Backpack program is designed to provide food and nutrition to children on weekends when school is not in session so come Monday they return ready to learn. Each week, the Magic staff through the Magic Volunteer Program (MVP) would fill backpacks to go home with hundreds of students for the weekend.

“Studies show that children who do not have enough to eat have a difficult time staying focused,” said Magic Vice President of Community Relations/Government Affairs Linda Landman Gonzalez. “Thanks to Dwight’s generosity and through the Magic Volunteer Program, these students had nutritional choices on the weekend and came to school on Monday ready to learn.”

“The Blessings in a Backpack program allowed our students to put learning first and taken hunger out of the equation,” said Lake Como Elementary Guidance Counselor Sandy Glaize. “Any program or intervention that mitigates the devastating effects of hunger on children is invaluable to the community. Dwight Howard and the Magic’s generous contribution of funds and volunteer time has made that possible for our Lake Como students. Since the program began in 2008, the Magic’s contribution has provided over 50,000 weekend meals to our students.”

Magic volunteers stuffed backpacks twice a week during the school year for the students. The Blessings in a Backpack program at Lake Como and Kaley Elementary became a reality due to the generous support of Howard, who donated $25,000 to this project as part of winning the 2009-10 Rich and Helen DeVos Community Enrichment Award. Each year, the Orlando Magic honors a player who has dedicated his efforts off-the-court for the purpose of enhancing others’ lives at the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation Black Tie and Tennies Gala. In addition to receiving the award, the player is granted $50,000 from the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation to donate to the charity of his choice. Howard donated the other $25,000 to BETA Center in December.