Sports Central

Welcome to the PBL, Quebec City

The Quebec City Kebekwa, very much a Frost Heaves' fan-favorite, announced they're joining the PBL today along with the Montreal Sasquatch (a brand-new group with no relation to the ABA's Montreal Royal) and the Detroit Panthers (2001 ABA champions under George Gervin).

This gives the northeast region another boost - the first being the Heaves' and Millrats' decisions to jump to the PBL. Obviously there are many questions left to be answered this summer, not the least of which include the rules and the schedule.

I talked with Heaves owner Alex Wolff today about the newest additions to Vermont's PBL family, and of course I asked about what's going on in terms of coach Will Voigt coming back or moving on. The official word is that there is no word, but with looming league meetings and such, I can't imagine this coaching question lasting for that much longer. I haven't talked to Millrats GM Ian McCarthy in over a week, but I assume there hasn't been a move made there either.

--Anna Grearson

Issa Konare on PBN's Top 20 Minor Leaguers

I was alerted to this last night, and I am annoyed at myself for not picking up on it earlier.

Sam Amico's list of Top 20 Minor Leaguers was posted on ProBasketballNews.com back on April 25. Frost Heaves guard Terrance Green was on it earlier in the season at No. 20. TGreen did not make this latest list, probably because of his ACL injury and surgery. Millrats' guard Anthony Anderson, No. 3 earlier this season, dropped to No. 5.

Issa Konare jumped to No. 13, and Amico had this to say about Issa:

"Senegal native is powerful and strong around the rim, particularly when it coems to blocking shots. Not bad on offense either (15.8 ppg)."

Texas Tycoon and ABA All-Star Mario Kinsey was right behind Issa at No. 14; Halifax's Eric Crookshank, also an ABA-All Star, was No. 17.

The D-League's Kasib Powell of the Sioux Falls Skyforce was the top minor leaguer, and, naturally, the D-League MVP.

There were no PBL players selected to this list that included the ABA's Beijing Olympian's Sun Yue at No. 8. There were 5 CBA players, 5 ABA players, 8 D-League players and one from the IBL.

--Anna Grearson

A little house-cleaning in the wake of the PBL announcement...

I have been meaning to blog about some other little news items to come out of the Frost Heaves' organization and the Manchester Millrats, so I figured now's about as good a time as ever to stop forgetting.

A few weeks ago, Heaves guard Dwuan Rice won his second minor league championship this year as the Pasadena, Calif., player was part of the NBA Development League champion Idaho Stampede. Rice went right back to the Stampede after winning the ABA title with Vermont (Rice came to Vermont by way of the Stampede), and Alex Wolff called to tell me this a while ago and I unfortunately didn't do anything with it yet. Wolff said that Rice played about 13 seconds in the NBADL final, but hey, that's 13 seconds longer than you or I played in it, and clearly a good opportunity for Rice.

What else...

Oh yes. Good news has also come out of Manchester. I've been bugging Manchester GM Ian McCarthy about what the Millrats are doing, who they might be signing with and whatever else the organization is up to because I know just how much the Vermont fans want to know about what is abuzz with their rivals. McCarthy called last night to tell me Millrats' guard Anthony Anderson - certainly a crowd favorite amongst the Frost Heaves fans - has a tryout with the Indiana Pacers' summer league later this month. Anderson was being considered for a position with a team in the Philippines but that ultimately fell through for whatever reason.

That's all I remember for right now...I'm sure there's more, the rumor mill is just whipping right along these days.

--Anna Grearson

Heaves to change leagues

According to a source close to the team and several blogs the Vermont Frost Heaves will not defend their two American Basketball Association championships next season and will change leagues to the Premier Basketball League.

The PBL was a new league for the 2007-2008 season and included 10 teams, several that played in the ABA the previous season. The PBL plans to add expansion franchises next season in Buffalo, Toronto and Detroit, but is likely to lose franchises in Arkansas, Dallas and Jacksonville. The Rochester RazorSharks, one of the teams that beat the Frost Heaves in their inaugural season but did not compete in the '06-'07 playoffs, won the PBL's initial championship earlier this spring.

Since winning their second ABA championship the Frost Heaves management has said that options for the '08-'09 season were being considered. More information on the change of leagues was expected later Friday. Frost Heaves owner Alex Wolff has also said previously that he expected the Vermont, Manchester and Quebec ABA franchises to work together on plans for the future. According to contributers to the www.oursportscentral.com minor league basketball blogs Manchester and Quebec will join Vermont in moving to the PBL. The logo on the Manchester Millrats website features a change in the colors of the basketball from the ABA's red, white and blue ball.

The Premier Basketball League, in its inaugural season, scheduled 20-game seasons for its teams.