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BREAKING NEWS: Pro Basketball League Is Coming To Bay City!

The Mid-Michigan Destroyers Are Coming To JJKN Hoops Training Center!

October 8, 2008       1 Comments
By: MyBayCity Staff

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Bay City team will look to draft (as their first pick) NBA player (Flint native) Luke Lloyd who also played in England.
 

The Premier Basketball League (PBL) announced today, the acceptance into the league of the Mid-Michigan Destroyers, an expansion team that will begin play in the 2008-09 PBL season right here in Bay City.

The PBL has been working with the ownership group since the beginning of the year. Recently, the Destroyers solidified the dates needed to move forward with play for this season right here in Bay City at the JJKN Hoops Training Facility located on Third Street on Bay City's East Side.

"We are proud to become members of the Premier Basketball League," said Team President Jere Shockey. The "home base" facility located in Bay City will hopefully bring exposure to the surrounding areas throughout Mid-Michigan," Shockey went on.

Shockey is no stranger to Pro-Basketball. He has been involved for decades with players such as Basketball Legend, "Pistol Pete" Maravich and more. He has worked diligently for decades with talented players attempting to get into the NBA. Shockey was also an Assistant Coach in the CBA League for the Flint Fuse team as well as The Great Lakes Storm which was based out of Birch Run.

"Pistol Pete" Maravich was an American basketball player known for his dazzling ball-handling, incredible shooting abilities, and creative passing. He learned at a very young age fundamental basketball and ball handling drills from his father, coach Press Maravich. He would follow his father and coach throughout the eastern and gulf seaboards as a young man before exploding onto the National Basketball Association (NBA) in his own right.

This team will look to draft as their first pick NBA player Luke Lloyd who previously played in England. See Detroit Pistons' Mention of Luke Lloyd

Luke played High School Basketball for Flint Southwestern and earned a four year scholarship to Morehead State University. Luke has almost a decade of professional experience in Europe and South America. He was a trainer for two years as well as working with the Detroit Pistons youth camp for four summers. He also facilitated team building activities at Base Challenge Center for two years.

Other draft picks . . . Will have to remain a "secret"!

The draft will take place Thursday, October 16th in Chicago at the ESPN Sport Zone at 1:00p.m. and will be televised nationally! Additional Draft Information.

Log on here at MyBayCity to watch the draft LIVE!

"This Bay City facility is perfect to bring Pro-Ball to Mid-Michigan," said Team President Shockey. "The venue is perfect for families to come out and have a good time," he went on. The team has a twenty game schedule with 10 games at home and 10 away.

"Having our home base located in Bay City just made perfect sense," Shockey continued. "This is huge progress where Basketball is concerned in the state. Players that have played overseas don't necessarily want to leave their families behind for the season. This allows them to still play professional ball right here in Michigan," said Shockey.

Bay City Mayor, Charles Brunner added, "Sports have always been huge in Bay City from Little League to soccer to high school sports such as Football and Basketball." Brunner pointed to the State Championship success of the All Saints as an example of Bay City sports fan support. "People in Bay City love sports and support it. I hope this league is very successful and that people in and around Bay City come out and show their love of the sport and support it," Brunner continued.

The JJKN Hoops Training facility is home to some of the top up-and-coming players in Michigan. The JJKN training center works with talented players from middle school, high school and college ranks.

Another Basketball icon involved with the league is Tom Doyle, President of Premier Basketball League (PBL) and owner of Rockville Maryland Nighthawks. Doyle was selected for his integrity, leadership skills and long-standing commitment to the sport.

"This new team (in Bay City) will create a terrific on-court rivalry with Detroit and Battle Creek while becoming an excellent travel partner for many of our teams," Doyle said. "Having an ownership group who is experienced in the business of basketball, with a keen understanding of our business model, made this ownership group a terrific match for the league."

Doyle's success with basketball began like most hoop dreams: with a simple backboard. When he was a child, Doyle's beloved father hung a basket in his back yard, igniting a new-found passion for the six-year-old. As Doyle got older, his intense passion for the game, combined with his killer business instincts, helped him land the Nighthawks, a team whose history was as disappointing as a deflated basketball.

Originally stationed in Upper Marlboro, Rockville's first professional sports team failed to find a home and make an impact in the league. His passion for community involvement, family entertainment and exercise helped make the Nighthawks one of the league's most successful teams.

As the owner and attorney for the Nighthawks, Doyle enjoys guiding his hoop stars along the path of basketball maturation. For his players, basketball has become more than just a game . . . it's become a way of life. Doyle recognizes that and is proud to be a part of a team who finds time for the community that supports them.

While taking over the team, Doyle began to put his father's mantras into motion. During their successful 2005-2006 season, the Nighthawks donated $50,000 worth of tickets to various youth groups throughout the community. Doyle took it a step further. As the owner of a successful Washington-based law firm, which promotes him as a new breed of attorney, Doyle donated a portion of his income to various local charities.

When he's not on the hardwood court of in the PBL front office, Doyle spends his time representing clients in court, a vocation he finds just as thrilling as basketball. In fact, his knack for achieving large verdicts and settlements for injured clients has led him to being recognized among Who's Who in American Law.

"This was simply a terrific fit. The training facility already caters to families and mentoring young players training for future hopes of playing in the NBA someday." "That's perfect for this league," Doyle said.

"We are hoping in January to have National Television exposure. Community involvement is something this league prides itself on. Our professional players stay after every game and sign autographs, balls, programs and engage the public and their support. As professional athletes, this is extremely important to us and to the athletes. They enjoy it," said Doyle.

This league hopes to prove to be an asset to hard economic times here in Mid-Michigan as well as bring "hard core" Basketball to beautiful Bay City.

Schedule will be released early next week. Season tickets will go on sale Monday October 20th. Individual Tickets will go on sale Monday November 10th.

(Editor's Note: MyBayCity.com along with MyTriCityNews.com welcomes this league to Bay City and encourages the public to support it's growth upon entering our "neck of the woods"!)

For further information contact the Premier Basketball League call Jere Shockey, Team President @ 989.244.1156 or info@jjknhoops.com. For league information visit www.pblproball.com.



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