ABA to play in Winston-Salem in 2008

Published on July 3, 2007 under American Basketball Association (ABA) News Release


Indianapolis, IN. The American Basketball Association (ABA) today announced that it has added Winston-Salem, North Carolina to its roster of expansion teams for the 2008 season. According to Joe Newman, ABA CEO, "We are very pleased to be back in North Carolina - a great basketball state - and we have an excellent, well-qualified group of individuals leading the way. This will be a very successful organization."

Wesley E. Mason, III will serve as co-owner of the team. He is currently Chief Executive Officer at Old Vineyard Behavioral Health Services in Winston-Salem. He exemplifies leadership through integrity in treating individuals with mental health issues, drug/alcohol problems and conduct disorder. Mr. Mason is a man of vision - building a 45-bed facility to a 111-bed facility in just over a year. He has had great success managing a team of over 275 employees and has an impeccable reputation in the community. He received his Master Degree in Social Work from Madison University and a Bachelor of Psychology Degree from Henderson State University.

"Wes is a driven, passionate, visionary leader who not only inspires his colleagues for excellence, but the lives of young people," added Newman. "Wes will bring the same energy to the Winston -Salem ABA team."

LaToya Camille Shine Mason is the other co-owner. She has a Bachelors Degree in Marketing as well as a BA in Public Relations from the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. She holds a MA of Business Administration from Phoenix University and now owns and operates Edible Arrangements in North Little Rock, AR and successfully manages several real estate properties. LaToya's background is in advertising having worked with companies like Pfizer, Alltel, Arkansas Department of Health and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. She believes in giving back to the community and is actively involved in Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. and has participated in fundraising for the American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. "My vision is to bring a quality basketball team to Winston-Salem that will be entertaining and affordable to the community," said Ms. Mason. And between Wes, Louis and I, we have the background and experience to get the job done right."

Louis Vincent has been appointed team General Manager. A graduate of Port Chester High School, Louis received an athletic scholarship to Towson State University in Baltimore, Maryland. After playing basketball for two years at Towson State, he transferred to Upsala College and helped the team become one of the op teams in Div III basketball in the US. While working for various pro basketball teams, he became a mortgage brokerage consultant in 1987. While working for the mortgage company, he never let his dream of playing pro basketball die and he accepted an offer to play pro ball in England where he played for four years.

Upon settling back in the US, Louis made the decision to share his love, talent and knowledge of the game and moved into the academic area. During this time, he directed a youth center called Don Bosco Center which developed after school programs and organized youth basketball tournaments. This center has developed many top, talented college players. For four years, he coached high school varsity and has also worked as a counselor for at risk youth. In 2004, he founded Full Circle Kids to create inner city mentoring programs and basketball camps for girls and boys.

"We are really looking forward to the challenge," stated Vincent. "There are so many great players available from North Carolina, Duke, Wake Forest, NC State and other tremendous area basketball schools. We will do North Carolina proud." For more information, email wes.mason@uhsinc.com or call 336 409 1936 or email nulook2004@hotmail.com or call 336 624 4188. 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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American Basketball Association Stories from July 3, 2007


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