Semi Pro Hoops in Durham

Durham is a City of Champions in many sports, but most notable are the baseball and basketball wins - and most rabid are the basketball fans.  In sporting circles, Durham is Bull, Devil and Eagle country.  Well, it's time to add a new mascot to the menagerie - the Jaguar.

The Carolina Jaguars are a professional basketball team located in Durham who play their home games on several area courts including NCCU's McLendon-McDougald Gymnasium. Having not suffered any delays during the NBA lockout, their season is underway.  Currently their standing is 3-4 having most recently lost to the Lynchburg Legends 111-103.

The team has a strong community focus and most players are alumni of local schools.  Playing in the American Basketball Association's (ABA) Mid-Atlantic Conference, the team is part of a trio of Carolina teams including the Rocky Mount-based Cheetahs and the Greensboro-based Cougars.  Founded in 1967, the ABA merged with the NBA in 1976.  One of the most significant contributions the ABA has made is to help bring professional basketball to the college athletics dominated markets in the Southeastern US.

Jaguars tickets can be purchased online where their schedule can also be found.

Tryouts for the American Basketball Association (ABA) Professional basketball come to North Carolina

Three brand new American Basketball Association (ABA) expansion teams are calling North Carolina home and are looking for 45 players to add to the roster.  Tryouts for the three teams will be held in one location on Saturday, May 21st from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. on the campus of North Carolina Central University in the McLendon-McDougald Gym located at 616 E. Lawson St. Durham, NC.  

Players who are selected will be placed on one of the three teams: the Carolina Jaguars (Durham), the Carolina Cheetahs (Greensboro), and the Carolina Cougars (Rocky Mount). A registration fee is required and can be completed either on-line at www.carolinajaguars.tv.

The public is invited to come out to watch the tryouts at no charge. The mother-daughters owners Dr. LeVonder Brinkley and her two daughters, LoveN’der Avent Alston and Lexandria Avent of Carolina Cats Sports & Entertainment organization lead the teams. They are excited about the talent here in North Carolina and are eager to continue to break new ground with these teams. According to Brinkley, “We believe that the talent level in North Carolina is very high and we excited to bring that talent to the fans in the form of affordable, fun, fast-paced and exciting professional basketball.”

Players interested in trying out for the teams can contact Vice President of Sports Operations, Tommy Stevenson at 910-494-2245 or tommystevenson59@gmail.com for more information.