Salem Stampede Gallop Back to IBL with NBA Experience
March 1, 2012 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Salem Stampede News Release
The Salem, Ore., Stampede have re-joined the International Basketball League under new ownership and will participate in the 2012 season, the league announced today.
The organization's ownership will be headed by the father-son duo of Price and James Johnson, who own The Hoop, a 51,000-square-foot indoor sports facility in Salem that features six basketball and volleyball courts. The facility hosts a number of leagues, clinics and camps for players of all ages and abilities. The facility's center court, which features seating for over 500 fans, will serve as the team's home floor for the 2012 season. The Hoop is located at 3575 Fairview Industrial Drive in Salem.
Price Johnson has years of experience working with NBA-caliber talent, as he has served as a special assignments coach for the Milwaukee Bucks under George Karl, even writing a book together, 101 Offensive Basketball Drills, which the Stampede will put to good use. Johnson also served in the same role with Nate McMillan and the Portland Trailblazers and has coached many NBA talents from Sam Cassell, Ray Allen to Michael Redd and NBA Champion Jason Terry. For three years he also coached the EA Sports All-Star basketball squad as they toured the country playing exhibitions against collegiate teams.
James Johnson, who is the Director of Operations at The Hoop and will serve as the Stampede's General Manager, played college basketball at Western Carolina University, where he was a teammate of current Houston Rockets guard Kevin Martin.
"We will have a very competitive team in the IBL this season, and frankly I expect us to win it all," Price Johnson predicted. "We have already added Jeremiah Dominguez and Phil Nelson from Portland State to the roster this season and I expect them to be key players for us."
The Stampede previously participated in the 2006 and 2007 IBL seasons, fielding top-notch teams both years. Notable players on the roster during that time included Keizer, Ore., native Grayson Boucher, who is best known as "The Professor" from the AND1 Mixtape streetball tour, and Eric Fiegi, a former Corban College standout that led the IBL in scoring in 2006 and went on to play overseas for several seasons in France, Romania and Hungary. In 2007, Salem finished with the IBL's second-best record at 18-4.
In 2011, the Stampede participated as a member of the National Athletic Basketball League, where they posted a 10-5 record, however the league's instability hampered the team's efforts. Initiatives put in place by new IBL Commissioner Sharleen Graf attracted the organization back to the IBL.
"The return of the Salem Stampede to the IBL under the new ownership of two great leaders in the basketball community strengthens our league, adding invaluable experience and community focus. The quality of our teams is vital to ensure we are creating authentic opportunities for our players, coaches and a great fan experience. The Johnsons bring all this and more to the table which will continue the growth, depth and validity of the IBL," the IBL Commissioner stated.
The Stampede will open the 2012 season on the road against the Bellingham Slam on April 21. The team will make their home debut at The Hoop in Salem on May 12 against the Portland Chinooks. The team's full 20-game schedule, along with news on player additions and community outreach programs, will be announced shortly.
"We are excited to be partnered with the Salem Family YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club. We will also be hosting a number of clinics at elementary schools around Salem this season," commented Johnson when asked about community programs the Stampede will be involved in.
International Basketball League Stories from March 1, 2012
- Salem Stampede Gallop Back to IBL with NBA Experience - Salem Stampede
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