National Athletic Basketball League names first ever Player of the Month - May 4, 2010 (by Joe Becerra) The National Athletic Basketball League (NABL) has announced the leagues first ever player of the month award for April.
The NABL has named Co-Players of the Month Cameron Mitchell (6'7''-F/C, college: Willamette) and Mac Hopson (6'2''-G-87, college: Idaho). Both players have shown an excellent transition from the college ranks to the professional level. The NABL expects both players to move on to exceptional pro careers overseas. Mitchell and Hopson are both negotiating with agents at this time and are expected to sign soon.
Mitchell is a 67 forward for the Salem Stampede. He is from Grant High School in Portland, OR and he is a senior at Willamette University. He has helped lead Salem to a league leading 5-1 record. Mitchell is averaging 19.2 ppg and a league leading 12.1 rpg. He is shooting 65 percent from the field while coming off the bench most of the season.
'I think we have a league full of great young players along with a super veteran group of guys mixed in on the teams. I would not trade Cameron for any player in the league. He is a great basketball player and even more important a great person. He is a leader and a winner.' Stated Stampede President/GM Joe Becerra . 'He is the kind of person you can build a championship team around. Its really a tribute to what honest hard work will do and for any young players out there who are looking for a player to emulate- Cameron is the guy.'
Hopson has also exploded onto the minor league scene. He is a 63 guard from Jefferson High School in Portland, OR and just graduated from the University of Idaho. He has helped the first year Portland Showtime to a 3-3 record which puts them right in the middle of the league title run
He is averaging a very impressive 27.3 ppg 9.1 assists and 7.3 rebounds. 'Mac is really fun to watch. There is nothing on the court he cant do. He scores inside and outside, he leads us in assists and he can rebound with the best.' Announced Portland Owner Tyrone White .' His mom and dad are great people and he just finished his degree at Idaho so things are really looking up for Mac right now. He has put himself in a position where he has some nice options available to him.'
Fans can catch both Mitchell and Hopson in action at the: May 14-16 NABL ALL STAR SHOWCASE in Salem at the HOOP. More info on the ALL STAR weekend at: www.salemstampede.com www.na-bl.com
NABL completes year one- gears up for a greater year two - Aug 9, 2010 (by Joe Becerra)
2010 NABL Season Recap:The first regular season in the National Athletic Basketball League (www.na-bl.com) is officially complete and in thebooks, and overall the league in season one did a solid job. The Seattle market and has a new ownership group and look to make agreat impact immediately. The 'NABL All Star Weekend' event in Portland accomplished itsgoal of having the best players play in a mid season All Star Event. The talent level was incredible [read more]
2010 NABL Season Recap: The first regular season in the National Athletic Basketball League (www.na-bl.com) is officially complete and in the books, and overall the league in season one did a solid job. The Seattle market and has a new ownership group and look to make a great impact immediately. The 'NABL All Star Weekend' event in Portland accomplished its goal of having the best players play in a mid season All Star Event. The talent level was incredible. The league will post a full list of players who have been signed to play for the upcoming winter season The best players in the Pacific Northwest played in the NABL for the 2010 season. The league expects to attract returning stars and has commitments from some very talented players who will be coming in for the 2011 season.
The NABL is a solid league with real potential, the league was formed just eight months ago. When a league is put together in such a short period of time, there are bound to be wrinkles but all of these will be address in the off season owner meetings so that 2011 will be even more successful. Expansion will happen, but according to Compliance Director Nathan Mumm it will be done in short spurts as opposed to 20 teams in a month. Radio exposure is also important and we have a league partner that will carry all the games next season. Exposure and visibility is key for a minor league and season two brings some great possibilities with 12 months of experience and time to get things ready to go. The NABL would like to thank all the fans, sponsors and teams who made the first year a great experience for all.
Portland and Salem set to battle for NABL title- a fans perspective - Jul 2, 2010 (by Joe Becerra)
The Portland Showtime will host the Salem Stampede Saturday July 3, in game one of the NABL finals. Tip off is set for 3pm at Jefferson High in Portland.
The NABL would like to share a letter that was sent in from Portland resident and fan Michael Jackson on his perception of his first NABL game.
Showtime in the NABL- by Michael Jackson-Portland, Oregon.
First impressions can throw you for a loop if you start shaking your head before you wait for the completion [read more]
The Portland Showtime will host the Salem Stampede Saturday July 3, in game one of the NABL finals. Tip off is set for 3pm at Jefferson High in Portland.
The NABL would like to share a letter that was sent in from Portland resident and fan Michael Jackson on his perception of his first NABL game.
Showtime in the NABL- by Michael Jackson-Portland, Oregon.
First impressions can throw you for a loop if you start shaking your head before you wait for the completion. My first venture into Concordia Universities gym, primed to see a NABL (National Athletic Basketball League) basketball game where the Portland Showtime was taking on the Salem Stampede was such the case. Some of the players seemed disinterested and lacking full focus. I mean there was a game about to start in 20 minutes, am I the only person who remembers?! The referee tosses the ball up, it lands in the hands of Dominic 'Flowin'' Waters (Trust me the name fits perfectly). Suddenly the electricity races around the building charging up everyone from coaches to players, the fans, the staff at the scorers table and even the referees. Dom hits from 30 feet out! He has been in pre draft workouts with the Blazers with that NBA jumper! Here's Grant High's Cameron Mitchell who plays for the Stampede getting loose on a two handed breakaway jam. Welcome home Cam!
My first impression was cancelled, reevaluated, gone away, and forgotten. I've been hoodwinked, & hornswaggled, I had to immediately text a friend and let them know - these young kids had mad game, and really displayed a talent level above many. By games end I definitely left needing to see more of the cities new phenomenon. So the following week I returned to witness more 'ballin''. What I got was highlights that superseded the small price of the $8.00 admission. It was as if I entered 'West world' or 'Fantasy Island', whatever you wished for, you would soon receive. Imagine the tip off and suddenly there were marksmen like Tacoma's Jason Stromvall, Salem's Jeff Dunn (6'5''-G-83, college: Corban), Snohomishes Jason Hicks or Portland's own Waters cut from the same cloth as Ray Allen, Dale Ellis, and Del Curry. Athletic swingmen like Salem's Mike Tabb and Antone Jarrell and Showtime's Seth Tarver, reminding you of high flyers before them like Rudy Gay, Gerald Wallace and Trevor Ariza. Dribbling machines with rhymatic handles like Mac Hopson of Showtime and Nate Jackson of the Tacoma Thunder make you think of Chris Paul and Mike Conley. The league has 'swagger'; it has attitude, pure excitement, and a competitive fire that burns like the meat on your uncles bar b que grill. It proved to me once and for all that white men can jump. After I saw Snohomish's Shawn Wolter come from the ceiling down into the hoop, I truly knew this league was too good to keep to myself. So I'm telling you right now, this is something you have got to see. Come be a part of the championship thrill, the game is July 3rd, 3:00pm, Jefferson High School. The experience will have you calling all the Aviators you know to Stampede to a game near by. Tell them to bring their umbrellas and galoshes', cause there's Rainmakers about. Keep your eyes angled on the rim for the Thunder dunks and rim rockin Explosions. When the ball is tipped, let em know - its Showtime. Thanks NABL!! > M.Jax...
Salem tops Snohomish advances to NABL Finals - Jun 30, 2010 (by Joe Becerra)
The Salem Stampede raced to a 148-123 win over the Snohomish County Explosion
In the deciding game of the NABL semi finals, with the win Salem closes out the
best of three series 2-1.
Salem will now play the Portland Showtime in the Finals
Mike Tabb (6'6''-G/F-82, college: San Jose City JC) the 2010 NABL Defensive player of the year scored 39 points and added
14 rebounds while playing multiple positions defensively [read more]
The Salem Stampede raced to a 148-123 win over the Snohomish County Explosion In the deciding game of the NABL semi finals, with the win Salem closes out the best of three series 2-1.
Mike Tabb (6'6''-G/F-82, college: San Jose City JC) the 2010 NABL Defensive player of the year scored 39 points and added 14 rebounds while playing multiple positions defensively. Ryan Skinner (6'1''-G-79, college: Yakima Valley CC) scored 28 points . Ryan Schmidt added 24. Willie Freeman and Matt Schmidt (6'6''-F-86, college: W.Oregon) added 20 each. Jeff Dunn (6'5''-G-83, college: Corban) scored 15 as Salem scored 83 points in the second half to pull away in the elimination game.
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