New Pro Hoops League Ready to "BALL"
By Matt Leon
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A new pro basketball league is coming together that will help give hoop junkies their fix during what is a traditionally lean time in the basketball calendar.
The Basketball Alumni Legends League or "The BALL" (visit their site) is slated to launch in 2013 with four teams featuring a lot of local college stars that aren't high draft picks and don't transition right away into NBA stardom.
Michael Wranovics is the founder of this new endeavor.
"Instead of putting a league together during the traditional basketball months when you've got plenty of basketball - the NBA and college hoops, and high school for that matter. Take the offseason, the time of year when they players who go overseas or play in the D-League are available, they need to play at that time of year, they need to stay in condition and work on their game. Have localized teams in college basketball hotbeds, markets like Philadelphia where you've got the Big 5 and so much basketball tradition and fans that really love the game. And so much talent that comes out of those programs, have them all playing together on a team against other teams like them that are based in other college basketball hotbeds."
Listen to matt Leon's interview with Michael Wranovics:
Now while the launch is set for 2013, fans can get a sneak preview of what "The BALL" is all about next month.
"We decided to kick the whole thing off with a couple of showcase events, just to show what we've got," Wranovics says. "August 4th (in DC) and 5th. On August 5th, that Sunday, there will be a game at St. Joseph's University at Hagan Arena."
That showcase game on Hawk Hill will feature such great local names as Villanova product Curtis Sumpter and St. Joe's Pat Carroll. The game will actually be quite significant for both as it will be their final games as pros.
For more information on the Basketball Alumni Legends League, click here.
You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.
