Baltimore has a rich talent pool when it comes to basketball, something that Rudy Gay and Josh Boone reinforced last week when the local hoopsters both became NBA first-round draft picks.
Matthew Bradby II hopes to tap into this local talent as he looks to make an impact in the American Basketball Association with his franchise, the Baltimore Pearls. Bradby, a local pastor, recently purchased the team that few in the area even knew existed. He hopes to generate local interest in the team – which went 2-26 in its inaugural season – and the ABA, a 58-team professional league that began play in 2000.
“We want to be a community-based league that offers quality basketball to compete for the ABA championship and also help out with local charities,” Bradby said.
Bradby said he is doing a lot already to let the community know about the Pearls, including printing 20,000 T-shirts and contacting local community and youth groups about the team. He added that the Pearls will play a 36-game schedule, including 18 at home, from November through March. Also, he said the games are an affordable family outing with tickets expected to cost $10 for adults and $6 for senior and children under 13.
The first step toward accomplishing that goal comes at 9:30 a.m. Saturday when the Pearls will host an open tryout at Northwestern High School, 6900 Park Heights Avenue in Baltimore. Players must be at least 18 years old and in attendance by 9:45 a.m. to be considered. Also, Maryland residents must pay a $125 registration fee while out-of-state candidates must pay $150.
Bradby said players trying out for this year?s team will be given a good chance to make the 15-man roster as only two players are returning from last year?s squad. He added that the league?s talent level is probably somewhere between Division I college and the overseas leagues.
Among the notable names to play in ABA are former Syracuse star Lawrence Moten and former Maryland Terp Byron Mouton, who played for the Pearls last year.
