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Strong Island Sound Tips-Off

November 8, 2005 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Strong Island Sound News Release


West Hempstead, NY -- Long Island's newest professional basketball team began its inaugural season on Saturday, November 5th when they traveled to Scranton, Pennsylvania to take on the N.E. Pennsylvania Breakers (Loss 119-117). The Sound were put together by Co-Owners Mel Coles and local businessman Darren Cioffi and they promise to bring fun, exciting and competitive basketball to fans of all ages. The team's first home game will be on November 25th when they host the Harlem Strong Dogs. The team has ten home games scheduled at St. Joseph's College in Patchogue and will play its remaining home schedule at various local Long Island High Schools.

Coaching the Sound will be Long Island native Joseph Medina. Medina was a standout athlete at Commack North High School and has experience coaching in the USBL as well as the Southern California Summer Pro League. Coach Medina brings an enthusiasm and passion for the game of basketball that is hard to rival. Watching the team during its two week training camp it is easy to see the fire burning inside Joe Medina. He demands a lot of his players but has a system in place that when executed rewards his players with excellent scoring opportunities.

The Sound has assembled a terrific group of talent for the upcoming season. Local college standouts and a solid mix of veteran leadership will help the Sound navigate their first season in the ABA.

John Strickland: F / C, 6'8", 265 Hawaii - Pacific '95
Roberto Gittens: F/C, 6'6", 260, Hofstra ‘01
Raphael Edwards: F, 6'7", 230, East Carolina ‘98
Gary Williams: G/F, 6'7", 235, USC ‘98
Shawn Simpson: F/C, 6'8", 228, New Mexico ‘97
Adrian Walton: G, 6'0", 195, Fordham ‘02
Avery Headley: F, 6'6", 235, Florida Atlantic ‘03
Karim Smith: G/F, 6'8", 210, Long Island ‘01
William Samuels: G/F, 6'3", 230, Nassau CC ‘02
Mohammed Diakite: C, 6'11", 225, St. John's ‘05
SirValiant Brown: PG, 6'1", 205, G. Washington ‘01
Lee Church: PG, 6'0", 210, Clarion ‘05
Fabian Pinnock: F, 6'7", 220, Cal. St. - Bakersfield ‘03
Motohiro Fujino: PG, 6'0", 185, Waseda (Japan) ‘02
Jordan Ostrander: G, 6'6", 220, Plattsburgh State ‘02
Eric Thompson: F, 6'9", 220, St. Francis College ‘04
Reggie Roberson: G, 6'3", 190, Salem International '02
Kahlil Nixon: F, 6'7", 235, Medgar Evans ‘02

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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