The season can’t begin soon enough for the organizers and partners of the newest entry into the American Basketball Association, the Tri-City All-Stars.

 

Coached by San Antonio Spurs legend Johnny Moore, the team will open its inaugural season Nov. 3 with a 4 p.m. clash with the San Antonio Blaze at their home court at Northeast Lakeview College in Universal City.

 

With one tryout already in the books and about a half-dozen players on the roster, the All-Stars plan a second tryout in October just weeks before the season begins.  “We’ve had one tryout, we’ve invited back six players to a veterans camp in October. We’ll have another tryout in October as well,” said Sharon Blacknall, All-Stars general manager and managing partner.

 

The All-Stars will play a 20-game season, with their 10 home games at Northeast Lakeview. Two games may be added, Blacknall said, if details are worked out to bring a traveling team from Japan to town for a two-game exhibition weekend.

Moore, a point guard for the Spurs for nine seasons from 1980 through 1990, said the talent hunt will continue nationwide for players to round out the roster. The nature of the league — with 21 teams in the ABA Southwest Division from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and southern Kansas — relies on finding and developing local talent.

 

“We look at players from all over the country, but because of the nature of this league, we want more local and regional players,” Moore said.

“We’re looking for a local player, someone who the community can identify with, which is always good for the team. But we’ll have players who will come from as far away as North Carolina, Michigan, Florida … there’s talent everywhere, and they all want to play,” he added.

 

Finding players who are realistic about their shot at “The League” is certainly to the All-Stars’ advantage.

“There are quality players all over America. All of them have aspirations of maybe playing in the NBA at one time or another, but that’s not reality,” he said. “But there are certainly enough quality players who can play the game the way it’s supposed to be played, and provide quality entertainment.”

 

He said the All-Stars are looking for coachable players who have the right attitude to play ball at the ABA level.

“We’re looking for players with a high skill level who are looking to continue to develop them,” Moore said. “We’re looking for players who are coachable, mature, have the basketball IQ and skill level, and have a great attitude, because this is going to be a family-based team to provide great family entertainment.”

 

Providing entertainment on the court blends with the All-Stars’ plans for community interaction off the court. Blacknall said that comes in the form of backing and support for charities and nonprofits, as well as player character development and social growth.

“What we’re looking for in this area is longterm partnerships and we really want to push the community service aspect,” Blacknall said. “We have our nonprofit ‘All-Stars Care’, and we’re partnering with other nonprofits, including Military Veterans Against Child Abuse.  “We really want to push those types of programs for the kids, and not just ‘the sport,’” she said, adding, “We want to integrate into life lessons for the youth.”

 

A key for the All-Stars, according to Moore, is assembling a roster of players who not only want to play and want to win,but who are ready to prepare for life after competitive basketball.

 

“The basketball aspect, that’s just a vehicle. Really, at the end of the day,we’re trying to develop them into better men, better fathers, brothers, husbands,” Moore said. “That’s the goal. That’s our main focus, it’s just not on basketball and entertainment. We’re interested in developing young men into better people, period.”

 

“But if we happen to win championships along the way, that’ll be fine,” Blacknall said, sparking laughter from all of the general and managing partners assembled, including Moore, Blacknall, assistant coaches Vaughn Coker and James “J.B.” Blacknall, senior marketing executive Dean Midlick, marketing executive Mark Gonzales, and director of sports medicine Nate Keselring.

 

“We feel a responsibility to teach the guys life skills,” Sharon Blacknall added. “A lot of things we take for granted, they may not have had the opportunity to experience. And whether they continue on in basketball or not, my personal goal is that they have all the life skills to go and be successful in whatever field.

 

“They may want to get into coaching one day,” she said, adding, “they may go into training, or whatever it is they try to do — we want to give them that foundation or answer any questions they may have that, frankly, they may be too embarrassed to ask their family or friends or anyone else in their life right now.”

 

The Tri-City All-Stars were formerly known as the Schertz All-Stars. Recently, the name was changed to reflect the market area of Selma, Schertz and Cibolo that will be represented, as well as cities and a potential fan base scattered throughout the Metrocom.

 

A Mission Statement on the team website — hometeamsonline.com/teams/TheTri-CityAll-Stars — reads, “Our goal each game will be to involve as many people from the community as possible in a variety of roles. Our platform will allow other organizations and individuals to showcase their talent and skills, before and during the game.”

jflinn@express-news.net