Greivis Vasquez (#21) will start the 2012-13 regular season as the starting point guard for the Hornets (Photo: Parker Waters).New Orleans, LA – The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have exercised their fourth-year option on guard Greivis Vasquez. Per team policy, the details of the contract were not released.

Vasquez, a University of Maryland product, was acquired by the Hornets from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Quincy Pondexter on December 24, 2011. Vasquez was originally selected by Memphis in the first round of the 2010 NBA Draft (28th overall). During the 2011-12 season, Vasquez tallied 8.9 ppg, 5.4 apg and 2.6 rpg while appearing in all 66 games. Vasquez led the Hornets in assists in seven of the eight games this preseason. He concluded the 2012 preseason averaging 7.4 assists per game, third best in the NBA behind only Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers and Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics.

The 6-6 guard is a native of Caracas, Venezuela and participated in qualifying for the 2012 Summer Olympics with the Venezuelan National Team. He is the first ever Venezuelan to be selected in the NBA Draft and only the third Venezuelan citizen to play a game in the NBA.