IBL news and notes
by Jeff Duncan
Published on March 6, 2008 under International Basketball League (IBL)
Paul Revere yelled, "The British are coming, the British are coming" I am no Paul Revere, but I am yelling, "The IBL fourth season is coming, the IBL fourth season is coming!!"
The IBL regular season officially tips off March 8th with a great rivalry game. The Bellingham Slam travel South to take on the Snohomish County Explosion in Monroe, WA. SnoCo already has one game under their belt which was a 169-85 dismantling of the IBL traveling team, the USA All-Stars. The Explosion were lead by Donald Watts with 26 points and 7 boards. Kyle Keyes chipped in 22 points, Chris Weakley added 19 and Jamal Miller had 12 points. The USA All-Stars were lead by Terrance King's 21 points and Tywan Gonzalez's 19.
It's a little different look for the IBL in it's fourth season. The league has 18 active teams for the 2008 campaign down from 22 in season three. I have talked to people, read message boards, and listened to so called "minor league experts". The big questions/concerns people have are, "why is the IBL down to 18 teams"? "Is the league in trouble?".
The answer to question one: the league is 18 teams because of smart moves by Commissioner Mikal Duilio. Knowing bigger is not always better, (see the ABA) Duilio encouraged Salem, Eugene, Seattle, Arizona and Lewis County to sit out the 2008 season, re-tool, and come back better and stronger for 2009. Instead of these teams limping through the 2008 season, and possibly folding, they will be simply sitting out 2008. Smart move.
The answer to question two: no, the league is not in trouble, in fact, it's poised for it's best season yet. This will be a break out year for the IBL. Solid owners throughout the league, solid officiating, international expansion, and excellent rosters, point the IBL to a fantastic fourth season. Speaking of rosters, lets take a peak at some of the western region teams rosters.
I already touched on the Bellingham-SnoCo game on March 8th so I will began with some big names from both teams. The Slam's roster is very impressive lead by recent signee, Erroll Knight, former Gonzaga standout. Knight began his professional career last season in Israel, playing for first-division team Hod Hasharon where he averaged 13.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Other players on note on the Slam roster are, Paul Hafford, Brian Dennis, Jacob Stevenson and Jared Stevenson. Hafford was a key player last season for the Central Oregon Hotshots. He averaged 24.8 points per game and had a season high of 47 against the Portland Chinooks. Dennis and the Stevensons, Jared & Jacob, all played for the Slam when they played in the ABA.
The Snohomish County Explosion return many of the key players from last seasons 17-5 team. Donald Watts, Rashaad Powell, Justin Murray, Jamaal Miller and Chris Weakley return to defend the West division title. It's a credit to head coach Randy Redwine and the ownership of the Explosion that so many former players return. This is a common thread in the IBL. Players are returning to the teams they played for. Stable rosters gives the fans more of a connection to their home town team.
Another team that returns many of their best players from last year is the Portland Chinooks. David Lucas, David Jackson, and Shammgod Wells return to try to win the IBL championship. The Chinooks lost to the Elkhart Express in the IBL championship last season. The Chinooks will also add 2007 IBL All-Star Dajuan Tate. Tate finished second in the IBL in scoring last season with an average of 35.6 points per game, then Tate took his game to China and averaged over 26 points per game. Tate is considered by many scouts to be one of the best players in the world not currently in the NBA.
The Central Oregon Hotshots re-tooled their roster and look poised to make a run at the IBL championship. A solid group of returning players, along with a nice batch of new comers, put a smile on the face of new head coach Joe Becera. Returning to Central Oregon are, Phillip Freeman, Cliff White and Terry Horton. The newcomers include, Jamal Walker, Chucky Freirson, Dustin Hummel and sharp shooter, Jeff Dunn. Look for the Hotshots to duplicate their 144 point a game average from last year and also put more emphasis on defense.
The Vancouver Volcanoes may have the most improved roster in the IBL. Shawn Malloy, Gary Muzzy, Edjuan Green, Porter Troupe, Kevin Bloodsaw, and Brad Lechtenberg are the keys cogs for the Volcanoes. Malloy, Green and Muzzy provide a solid inside game, Troupe and IBL all time leading scorer Bloodsaw are the slashers, and Lechtenberg is the pure jump shooter. Look for good things from the Volcanoes this season.
The Expansion Edmonton Chill have started to assemble a nice stable of talent. Stephen Sir, JR Patrick, Marques Hayden, Rashaun Broadus, and big time scorer, Antone Jarrell, lead the Chill into the 2008 season. Jarrell played last year with the Salem Stampede of the IBL, where he averaged 25.3 ppg and scored a record 68 points against the Central Oregon Hotshots. Was 10th in league scoring and was named to the 2007 IBL All-Star team. Hayden Played last year with Seattle of the IBL and most recently played for Talca Espanol of the Dimayor League top division in Chile, where he averaged 20.3 ppg,9.0 rpg and 1.3 bpg. Was ranked as #10 power forwards out of college at the NBA Players Association Camp behind the likes of current NBA All-Star and Toronto Raptor Chris Bosh.
That was a quick look at some the Western teams rosters. As the Eastern half of the IBL gets their rosters set I will preview them. If you were wondering if 7'9" center Sun Ming Ming will return to Grand Rapids, the answer is yes! I am very much looking forward to see the roster of the LA Lightning. I anticipate this will be the IBL version of "showtime". Another roster I am looking forward to seeing finalized is the two time IBL defending champions, Elkhart Express. I do know former Marysville star Michael Brownlee has been added.
I love feedback so if you have any, good, bad or ugly, send it to sportsmammal@nwlink.com.
International Basketball League Stories from March 6, 2008
- IBL news and notes - OSC Original by Jeff Duncan
- Hotshots bolster interior with addition of 610" big man - West Coast Hotshots
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
