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ABA adds Texas City, Texas expansion team

July 19, 2008 - American Basketball Association (ABA) News Release


Indianapolis, IN. The American Basketball Association (ABA) today announced that the league would begin play in Texas City, Texas starting in December with the addition of the Texas City Rangers. According to Joe Newman, ABA CEO, "The Rangers are set to bring a wealth of excitement and opportunities to the Southeast Texas area. The Rangers are owned by two equally ambitious and motivated young entrepreneurs, Markeith R. Borwn and Silvester W. Simple, Jr. Mr. Brown will serve as the CEO/President and Mr. Simple will serve as the Vice-President - and both are great young people with the absolute right vision. We are very pleased."

Markeith Brown has lived the game of basketball since the age of 5. His love for the game, matched with his God given talent, led him to be an outstanding guard on the 1998 Class 5A Mississippi State Championship Squad at Provine High School in Jackson, Mississippi. In addition, Markeith was a starter at East Central Community College and Division 1 Nicholls State University.

He was the Assistant Varsity and Head Freshman Coach at Central LaFourche High School in Raceland, LA from 2004-2006. In 2006 he was named head basketball coach at Vermillion Catholic High in Abbeville, LA where his team was Bi-District Champions and Regional Finalists. After the season, Markeith was named Vermillion Parish Coach of the Year. During the year, Markeith started MB Ball where he trained Louisiana's finest basketball talent. After moving to Southeast Texas, he continued to train players including several recent Division 1 signees. Moreover, Markeith used his available time to develop Lake Jackson, Texas' first semi-professional basketball team, The Lake Jackson Lakers. After creating the team, recruiting investors, and negotiating with sponsors, the Lakers joined the TPBL, while Brown decided to relegate himself to coaching and occasional playing duties. "It was then that we decided we were ready to join the ABA, and we couldn't be happier with the decision," stated Brown. "We've developed a lot of business and community contacts, we know what it takes to be successful on and off the court, and Silvester and I are definitely up to the challenge."

"Sylvester Simple Jr is a beast! Ask anyone who has had the task of guarding him in the post and I am sure they would agree," added Brown. "Standing at 6/7 and weighing 260 lbs, Simple was a two-time All-Conference Player at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas averaging over 21 points and 11 rebounds a game for two years consecutively. In addition, he was also named NAIA National Player of the Week and was a member NAIA All-America Honorable Mention team."

Professionally, Simple loaned his services to the Arkansas Archangels (WBA), Mexico Lobos (LNBP) and Lake Jackson Lakers where he averaged 25 points, 10 rebounds. He will be in charge of evaluating talent, front office duties, and staff development...and who knows, he might be needed in the paint." For more information, email markeithb@gmail.com, call 979 236 1573 or visit 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.

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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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