BUFFALO, NY - Former University at Buffalo basketball standout Mark Bortz (Commerce Park, MI/Walled Lake Central) made modern Division I history by being signed by the Los Angeles Clippers to their summer league team.

Bortz will leave for Las Vegas on July 5th and will compete with the Clippers entry in the Reebok Vegas Summer League from July 7-15. Bortz becomes the first UB player to join an NBA team since moving up to Division I play during the 1991-92 season. Under the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, free agents cannot sign a veteran's contract until after the summer leagues conclude.

Mark Bortz

A 6-10, 255 pound forward/center, Bortz was honored as the Mid-American Conference's Sixth Man of the Year in 2004-05 and helped the Bulls set several team milestones, including most wins in a season (23) and first-ever appearance in a Division I post-season tournament (the National Invitation Tournament). Bortz, a senior co-captain, helped lead Buffalo to its first Mid-American Conference championship game where the Bulls fell in overtime to Ohio.

Bortz had several tremendous games as a senior, including a career-best 32 points and 13 rebounds in an overtime victory over Niagara. He also had 20 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots in a first-round NIT overtime victory over Drexel at Alumni Arena.

Bortz worked out for the Clippers as well as the Toronto Raptors, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks in the weeks prior to the NBA Draft last week. The only UB player ever drafted by an NBA team was Bob Vartanian, who was selected by the Buffalo Braves in the 13th round (184th overall) of the 1973 draft. Ironically, the Clippers franchise was the same team that played in Buffalo.

Sam Pellom was the last former Bulls player to suit up in the NBA. He spent four seasons in the league between 1979-83, averaging 4.4 points and 3.5 rebounds over 196 games with the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks.

"We are very proud and obviously elated that Mark has earned this opportunity," said Buffalo head coach Reggie Witherspoon, who has led his Bulls to a mark of 40-22 over the past two seasons. "He has been a great ambassador for UB since he arrived on campus, and I'm certain he will continue to make us proud as he pursues playing basketball professionally."