A Successful Combine for the Premier Basketball League Leads to a 2nd Combine Coming to the East Coast in November

CHICAGO, Oct. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Premier Basketball League held a talent packed national tryouts and combine for the 2012 season in Chicago this past weekend. In light of the current lock out situation in the National Basketball Association, many top tier and free agent players are looking to the PBL for game action this coming season. With European basketball leagues marketing their programs to the locked out NBA players, record numbers at the PBL combine shows that playing domestically is still on the agenda of many top players for the 2012 season.

With the outstanding turnout during combine weekend in Chicago, the Premier Basketball League is finishing plans to stage a second combine. The East Coast Combine and National Tryouts will tentatively be set for the first weekend in November in the city of one of the PBL's newest teams, the Scranton Steamers out of Scranton Wilkes-Barre, PA.

"We wanted to give an additional opportunity for professional caliber players to stand out in front of coaches, league administration, and sports agents. We are thrilled with the turnout this past weekend, and have already received registration requests for our East Coast Combine," commented PBL Vice President of League Operations Carrie Ann May, who organized and put together this past weekend's PBL Combine from start to finish.

Many agents brought their clients to the Chicago combine to give them a shot on the court with some of the leading unsigned basketball talents in America. "We loved to hear the caliber of play was on par and in some cases exceeded that from the NBA's D-League combine held the weekend prior," continued Carrie Ann May.

Attack Athletics' Owner & CEO Tim Grover brought key players to the PBL combine as the host of the Chicago tryout weekend. With venue leadership being impressed with the overall operation and structure of the PBL combine, sights are set on the Scranton market to raise the bar even higher with the second combine just a month out.

In addition to the combine and tryouts, the PBL held its Referee and Officials Training Camp throughout the weekend. The PBL has been working hard with other leagues to raise the overall standards for minor league basketball in America. One of the first steps was creating a proper credentialing and standards process for game officials.

"We were amazed at the reception we received from potential game officials. With nearly 50 referee candidates showing up from 17 states, the PBL is excited about the high caliber of officiating set for the 2012 season. This is a crucial part of professional basketball, and we intend to set the bar," commented Paul Carter, PBL Director of Officials.

"I was extremely impressed at how well this PBL Combine was organized and put together.  Their two day tryout program really was a first class event.  The players that came out for the NBA D-League's Combine were that of the same talent I saw at the PBL's Combine," commented Steve Moeller, a Certified NBA Agent and President at Sports PLUS International.

The final date and location for the East Coast Combine will be set this week, and PBL front office staff encourages looking at the league's website www.ThePBL.com for registration information. The 2012 season is scheduled to tip off in January under the league's new regional play model.

Contact: Christopher Foltz, 312-772-4865, [email protected]

SOURCE Premier Basketball League (PBL)