Elkhart Express signs first player Lazarus Sims
December 7, 2005 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Elkhart Express News Release
ELKHART - The first player to sign with Elkhart's professional basketball franchise-the Elkhart Express brings with him the ball-handling skills of a Harlem Globetrotter and the experience of a time-tested pro. At a beefy 6-foot-5 and 221 pounds, Lazarus Sims may well become a dominating force in the International Basketball League next year. "Lazarus Sims is a great player to have; and he has the potential to be one of the best players in our league... because he has the size and strength to do it," says Daimon Beathea, president and head coach of the Elkhart Express.
Sims comes to Elkhart from the Rochester RazorSharks in the American Basketball Association. Prior to that he played for two years with the Harlem Globetrotters. In 1996, Sims guided the Orangemen of Syracuse University into the NCAA championship game. While at Syracuse, Sims started all 38 games his senior season, averaging 6.3 points per game and leading the team with 281 assists. He has played professional basketball around the world since college. This is not Sims' first team in the IBL (different IBL). During the 1999 and 2001 seasons, he played for the St. Louis Swarm. They were two-time champions under now NBA Coach Bernie Bickerstaff.
Beathea expects Sims to be a floor leader for the Express. "It's like he'll be an extra coach out on the floor," said Beathea. He also expects a lot from Sims' passing ability - comparing Sims to basketball legend Magic Johnson. "He can definitely help us create some 'Showtime' for the fans," said Beathea.
The Elkhart Express will play a schedule of 22 games from March 31 to June 30, 2006, including 12 home games at Elkhart's North Side Gym. The league's All-Star Game and Championship Tournament will also be played in Elkhart July 13 to 16.
Season tickets are available for $110 for adults 18 and older, courtside), $60 for adults 18 and older lower reserved and $36 for 17 and under lower reserved. Single game tickets for the same categories are $10, $7 and $4 respectively. People may call 574-522-9911 for tickets.
Two unique features distinguish the IBL from other professional basketball leagues:
1) Extremely low travel costs. The IBL promises a maximum of one trip requiring air travel. This means that teams will survive and thrive (financially) and IBL teams will be responsible members of their communities; in fact, all 17 teams that played in the inaugural 2005 season finished the season and 16 of those 17 teams are on schedule for the 2006 season (and the IBL has expanded by 9 teams as well).
2) An entertaining game. By allowing only one timeout per quarter and reducing the time between plays with an immediate inbounds, IBL games were fast and entertaining. In 2005 the IBL team scoring average was 127 points per game (and this game occurred in 2 hours).
International Basketball League Stories from December 7, 2005
- Elkhart Express signs first player Lazarus Sims - Elkhart Express
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.
