Back in September, the North American Premier Basketball League announced the addition of Kansas City to the league at a press conference at Municipal Auditorium which will be the home of the “Tornados.”
“It is a huge day for our league. I know better than anybody how great this market is,” NAPB/COO president, David Magley said. “We expect the Kansas City team to include many of the young local talent looking to play professional basketball.”
The Tornados open up a 32-game schedule on Wednesday night against the Kentucky Thoroughbreds at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $8-$25. The two teams will play on Thursday night as well. With teams on both coasts, the start up league is looking for a way to cut down on costs by having teams playing multiple games in the game city.
Kansas City will be coached by former KU forward Calvin Thompson. Kevin Young, a former KU player and Franklin Williams, a former UMKC player, will highlight the local “stars” to make up the roster. Other players include former local high school talent from the KC area.
Charlton Jones, 6-1, Oklahoma City University
D.J. Cole, 6-2, Youngstown State University and Olathe South High School
Grant Greenberg, 6-2, University of St. Mary and Leavenworth High School
Jacob French, 6-5, MidAmerica Nazarene and Blue Valley West High School
Jordan Stotts, 6-8, University of Sioux Falls
Quantel Denson, 6-9, MidAmerica Nazarene and Grandview High School
Taveres Sledge, 6-9, Wright State University
Tyler Rambo, 6-5, University of Indianapolis and Grandview High School
There will be 32 games, 16 home-and-away for each team. The top four teams make the playoffs which will be a best-of-3 game series format. All games can be seen in livestream via the internet.
The NAPB was founded by Magley Dr. Sev Hrywnak. The league is designed to support local markets that would otherwise not have the opportunity to watch live “pro ball”.
The league includes teams from Albany and Rochester, New York, Ohio, Mesquite, NV, Vancouver and Yakima, WS.