Warriors make move, prepare for first home opener
May 3, 2006 - World Basketball Association (WBA)
Cartersville Warriors News Release
Cartersville, GA - Finally a real home! After experiencing obstacles in Griffin, the Warriors ownership group has made the decision to relocate to Cartersville (GA). Several options were explored before choosing Cartersville, which after league-approval, wound up presenting the smoothest transition - under the circumstances.
The Warriors season has already started, and despite standing at 2-2 in the standings, the strain of not knowing where home was had begun to take it's toll. The City of Cartersville was very welcoming. Home games will primarily be played at Cass Comprehensive High School. There will be a couple of games, which Cass could not accommodate, played at JH Morgan Gym. A June 22nd home date against Murfreesboro will be played at a location to be determined with in the next few days.
Gerald Williams, the primary owner of the Warriors franchise, is pleased to be settled. "Now we will be able to get down to business, with promotions and the beginning of relationship building with the Cartersville and Bartow County community." Williams thanked the Cass High administration for working through the process so rapidly.
GM/Head Coach David Archer said, "we have a team that has a real opportunity to compete for a WBA Championship and being comfortable with our surroundings will make a big difference in how we respond to the task at hand. Mr. Nelson and Ms. Roundtree, along with the Bartow County School Board have been very helpful in helping us get situated with a proper venue to showcase our team and organization. We are excited!"
The Warriors boast players such as former Coosa HS (Rome, Ga) shooting guard Mike Dean, who is averaging 28.5 ppg through the first four games of the season. Former Kennesaw State Star Bobby Brown, a 6'7" small forward, is also averaging 27.5 points and nine rebounds per game. Other notables on the squad are 6'5" G/F Terrence Hill, who led Kennesaw State to the NCAA D2 National Championship in 2004. Hill played with the Detroit Piston summer league team, before moving on to Roanoke of the NBDL, then Hungary and Mexico pro leagues. Ray Luque, a 6'5" Guard, who was also a member of that KSU National Title team, is averaging 10.5 ppg for the Warriors. In the post, the Warriors have 6'9" Ron Dokes, from Duquense, 6'8" Delvin Thomas, who played at Bethune-Cookman and 6'8" Latece Williams, a Rome-native who played at Marshall University. Williams has made several stops overseas, including Germany, Lebanon, Netherlands and most recently Latvia.
6'0" combo-guard Tony Scruggs, provides some scoring punch off the bench. Scruggs led the NAIA Division in scoring at 30ppg during the 2004 season. 6'2" combo-guard Darius Wade, was a NCAA D2 All-American while with the Maroon Tigers at Morehouse College. The Warriors also have 5'10" PG Anthony Slater, who played at Florida Atlantic and has played in the USBL, ABA in in China. Slater, along with Dean, Brown, Hill and Luque are no strangers to Cartersville, as they have all previously competed for the locally based BaselineUSA exhibtion team operated by Archer. Also, Dokes, Thomas and Slater were teammates on the Florida Pitbulls ABA team this past season.
Rounding out the roster for the Warriors are 6'8" PF Akeim Claborne, a rookie from Alabama State and 6'5" SF Anthony Witherspoon, who played at Georgia State. Claborne was recently named the SWAC Player of the Year and was also named First Team All-SWAC.
The Warriors will be back on the court for its first game in Cartersville on Thursday night, hosting the Anderson Heat (0-2) at JH Morgan Gym. Tip off is set for 7:30pm. Thursday night's game will benefit the Eddie Lee Wilkins Youth Association. The Warriors will follow up with a trip to face Anderson on Friday night, then to Birmingham on Saturday night to face the Court Kings.
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