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ABA adds second West Virginia team for upcoming season

September 10, 2008 - American Basketball Association (ABA) News Release


Indianapolis, IN. The American Basketball Association (ABA) today announced that it has added the West Virginia Outlaws located in Charleston, WV to its growing list of expansion teams for the upcoming season. According to Joe Newman, ABA CEO, "We are very pleased to have these owners and this team in the league. It is a very experienced group with a tremendous knowledge of their community, business and basketball - and it certainly fits beautifully into our divisional plans. They're 100% ready to go; Charleston is a terrific city."

The West Virginia Outlaws entry into the ABA adds another economic development group to the ABA roster with the previous announcement of the Bluefield WV Housing Authority announcement. The West Virginia Outlaws Sports Academy, a very successful non-profit organization of former professional, college basketball players and coaches bring to the ABA a group of young businessmen with excellent sports backgrounds.

Thomas Jones, who founded the WVOSA, has been a coach for 14 years. Starting his career in youth leagues and AAU, he also coached high school and worked his way to semi-professional level with the West Virginia Wild, where he was also the team's Director of Player Personnel. Thomas is a native of Rand WV which is the birthplace of other great athletes such as NFL superstar Randy Moss and NBA star Jason Williams.

Elliot Belcher started his coaching career working his way up from humble beginnings. A native of Charleston WV, Elliot also started coaching AAU where his team competed for the state title every year. Elliot brings several years of coaching experience and a strong offensive mind to the program.

Daniel Hicks, a native of South Charleston, is a consultant to the talent and you Ambitious group. He brings many years of pro basketball experience and management knowledge to the staff.

The West Virginia Outlaws Sports Academy is a local boys & girls sports training club in West Virginia. The club was formed to give at risk adolescence in West Virginia's low income areas, another direction in life besides the fast life of the streets by encouraging a hard work ethic and Christian values.

The WVOSA promotes a drug-free atmosphere, good health and respect for self, one another and our communities. The West Virginia Outlaws Sports Academy's AAU programs offer a high level of competition as compared to local recreational sports leagues. "Our main objective athletically is to provide "after-season" play and training for boys and girls who are committed to sports and wish to improve their skills," stated Jones. "Workouts are focused on position training, strength and conditioning, quickness drills, speed and agility training. We rely on three words as a foundation to create a stronger mind and body to show kids how to become champions - discipline, dedication and desire or as we like to say - 3-D - one of the main rules of the great ABA. We are thrilled to be a part of this league."

For more information, email twjones@westvirginiaoutlaws.com or email info@westvirginiaoutlaws.com or call 304 419 2281 or 304 982 6705 or visit www.wvosa.com or www.abalive.com.

Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.



American Basketball Association Stories from September 10, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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