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Youth movement in Texas, development is "Key" for Tycoons

December 14, 2006 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Texas Tycoons News Release


Dallas, TX - The youth movement for the Texas Tycoons has been a "Key" to this season's success on and off the basketball court. Owner Charles Key and General Manager Mike Senters made their mission statement and keys to success known this off season as the organization searched for a Head Coach that would find, cultivate, and develop younger, hard working, and local DFW players into a winning organization. The Texas Tycoons chose Chris Terrell , at the time the director of basketball development for the Fort Worth Flyers and director of basketball operations of the World Basketball Association, to lead the organization onto the court. Terrell will continue in a leadership role with the WBA in the spring/summer season and carries those keys to success with him in that endeavor. The philosophy of development was a "Key" component to Coach Terrell's decision to accept the position and the organization's direction lends itself to an operation that can be successful not only in the development of the futures of the Tycoon's players but also the financial success of the organization. The average age of the Tycoons is 24 years old and each are local to the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Teams in all leagues at the minor league level often look for experienced veterans to become the stars of the team and the face of the franchise. The experience and leadership and proven abilities of those players may bode well for the franchise in the win and loss column but in some instances may not bode well to what the minor leagues is all about and that is the development of players on to the higher levels of professional play. Also, often those more experienced players may require contracts that may hamper the ultimate financial success of the organization. When asked about the difference in philosophy, Coach Terrell stated "I don't think anyone is getting rich in the minor leagues. I've heard of a player here or there making close to 5 figures per month but for the most part players are in the ABA, CBA, WBA, USBL, IBL, or D-League to put themselves in a position to garner interest from the NBA via the NBA's SPLs or team workouts. Different than some of the 30+ year olds on other franchises, that is a clear goal of each of the players on our team."

The 10-4 Texas Tycoons have not used the philosophy as a crutch that has gotten in the way of winning on and off of the basketball court. The team has had near capacity crowds for the last several games at Mountain View College, the DFW metroplex has embraced the home grown talent that out works it's opponent, and with their two defeats of the #1 rated team in the ABA, Arkansas Aeros, hope to move up to one of the top spots in the ABA league's power rankings set to be released Saturday. The Tycoons will travel to Houston for a Saturday night match-up with the Houston Undertakers. The Tycoons will be looking to push their record to 11-4 as they contend for a league championship this season.

Here are your 2006/2007 Texas Tycoons:

Position / Name/ Age/ Residence/ Notes

1 / Jerome Rogers (5'10''-G-81, college: N.Texas) / 25 / Dallas, TX / Extremely quick, lefty PG that can really shoot it
1-2 / Brandon Lee (6'3''-G, college: Tarleton St.) / 24 / Garland, TX / Captain*, One of the best pure shooters in the ABA, can play either guard spot
2 / Josh Gonner (6'2''-G-82, college: S.Carolina) / 24 / Fort Worth, TX / Captain*, Very athletic 2 guard from the SEC that can really fill it up
2-3 / Benny West (6'3''-G, agency: ProSportsCareers, college: Howard Payne) / 24 / Dallas, TX / Former All-American and slam dunk champion that is a shut down defender at 3 positions
3 / Donnie Beacham (6'5''-F-81, college: Texas Arlington) / 25 / Arlington, TX / Tough G/F that led Estonia in rebounding, shows up every night on both ends
3 / Bryce May (6'7''-F, college: Mc Neese St.) / 24 / Dallas, TX / Long and wirey athlete that has a nice touch on the perimeter and can finish
3 / Oneal Mims (6'10''-F-82, college: Angelo St.) / 23 / Waxahachie, TX / Long and wirey athlete with a 40+ verticle and guard skills
4 / Chris Williams (6'8''-F, college: Tarleton St.) / 24 / Cedar Hill, TX / Combination of strength, size, quickness, and skill
4 / Tyrone Rayson (6'6''-F-80, college: East Central) / 26 / Carthage, TX / Brings his lunch box to work, defends, boards, and grit with a soft lefty touch
4 / Randall Williams (6'8''-C-82, college: Tarleton St.) / 24 / Fort Worth, TX / Another lefty with touch around the basket and a nice face up game
4-5 / Jean-Paul Afif (6'9''-F-80, agency: World Sport Agency, college: Loyola Marymount) / 26 / Dallas, TX / Strong and hard working, former Sacramento King adds rebounding with a solid mid-range jumper
3-4-5 / David Johnson (6'10''-F, agency: BeSeenHoop.com, college: Texas Wesleyan) / 25 / Burleson, TX / 40+ inch verticle, plays 3 front court spots, led the nation in blocked shots two successive seasons prior to summer workouts with the Denver Nuggets
5 / Brian Gilic (7'0''-C) / 24 / Dallas, TX / 7'5 reach at 255lbs, mobile and active, rebounds and can finish

Head Coach: Chris Terrell
Assoc. Head Coach: Chuck Webb
Asst. Coach: Maurice Hairston

General Manager, Key Sports Entertainment President: Mike Senters
Owner: Charles Key

Scouts and player personnel directors can contact Coach Chris Terrell by email at chris@wbaball.net

You can find out more about the Texas Tycoons on the web at www.txtycoons.com or by calling 214-749-0134.

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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