Steve Francis to Endorse Reebok.

STOUGHTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 26, 1999--

Reebok announced today that Houston Rockets rookie Steve Francis has signed an endorsement agreement with Reebok. Francis, the 1999 Division I Newcomer of the Year, Sports Illustrated First Team All-American and Associated Press Second Team All-American guard from University of Maryland, was the second overall selection in the 1999 NBA draft.

"Steve Francis is a strong addition to the athlete roster at Reebok. We believe we now have two of the youngest, most explosive players in the NBA, with Steve and Allen Iverson," said Reebok's senior vice president of endorsements, John Frascotti.

Todd Krinsky, Reebok's general manager for basketball added: "Steve Francis is an icon particularly for outdoor basketball. He grew up on the playground, making him the ideal player to represent Reebok's Blacktop Collection. Reebok Basketball has two key initiatives for 2000, Blacktop and Iverson's Collection, the outdoor and indoor of basketball."

Francis will be the spokesperson for Blacktop, which focuses on outdoor basketball. In addition, Francis and Reebok will work together on a variety of grassroots community service projects.

"I am excited to enter a partnership with Reebok that allows me to play a major role in the launch of the Blacktop Collection and give back to the community," said Francis.

While a senior at the University of Maryland, Francis shined. The Terrapins began the season with a 10-0 record and were ranked number two in the country, the highest national ranking in more than 20 years. Francis led the team in scoring (17.6) and the ACC steals (2.8).

In 1997, Francis played at Allegeny Community College in Maryland. That season, he averaged 23.5 points, 8.7 assists, 7.1 rebounds and 5.3 steals per game, making his second straight trip to the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament (NJCAA). He was the first person to lead two different teams to the finals.

In 1996, Francis was the starting point guard for the San Jacinto Junior College in Pasadena, Texas. He led his team to a 36-1 record; the only loss that year was at the NJCAA tournament.

Francis grew up in Takoma Park, Maryland. He would live out NBA fantasies with his friends at a local fire station, playing on a basketball court consisting of bent rims and plywood backboards. While his peers practiced on high school basketball teams, Steve's game developed by playing street ball at various parks in the Washington, D.C. area.

Reebok International Ltd., with headquarters in Stoughton, MA., is a leading worldwide designer, marketer and distributor of sports, fitness and casual footwear, apparel and equipment. Principal operating units include the Reebok Division, The Rockport Company, Inc., The Greg Norman Collection and Ralph Lauren Footwear. Sales for 1998 totaled approximately $3.2 billion.

Reebok can be accessed on the World Wide Web at http://www.reebok.com