Catch Spokane presents, East Central Community Center Hosts… The Select Summer Basketball League. (Click for league site)

Initially created for home for the summer college players so they can have a highly competitive league in which to play during July and August. In this league players are not only given teams that will be as equally matched as possible but they will be exposed to new relationships in order to guide signing or transferring schools and prolonging collegiate careers and who knows possibly professional realities. “Networking is a large part of success in life and why not give the local basketball players the same tools in their possible field of work?” says Catch Spokane Director and East Central Community Center Athletic and Recreation Director. The league boasts players from the high school potential recruits up to current “over-seas” professional players. These higher level players are said to be part of the growing process for the younger players and to help them succeed playing against bigger, stronger, more experienced men. “Sometimes its frustrating to the kids but they are constantly reminded of how much it will help them later on, even by us”, quoted a referee that helps with the league’s vision.

Players also get a chance to be involved in the league by supporting the process of all that goes into managing a league like this. In these leagues players have access to game stats on a mobile app and website through Wooter, access to full game videos on the Catch Spokane You Tube channel as well as the ability to view any pictures or videos that are individually uploaded by players and fans, through the Wooter app and league website.

Matt Pigg is an example of a player that is as dependable and reliable for his team on the court, scoring and rebounding as he is to the organization keeping stats and cleaning up after games. Matt also helps run the score clock and video camera, in order to play games with minimum or no fees. That is part of the culture at East Central Community Center, everybody is involved and part of the rising of the new direction of the community center.

Community partners like Numerica Credit Union, All Star Sports Photography, Protein Puck, Wooter, and Moca Creations have been great additions to this year’s league sponsorship lineup. They are helping with the custom uniforms players will get to wear, action photos of games, and the ability for the league to branch out and connect players with resources to better the experience of a typical basketball league. These partners have also made it possible so the “struggling college student” can afford to play in a very detailed and professionally ran league with the sponsorships allowing the current college players to only pay half price!

Now lets talk about the teams and their players a little bit. The East Central Gold team was put together by Spokane networking giant and basketball giant, Andre Ervin. Andre has put together a team that he says is highly versatile and defensive minded. Players attached to this system include “superman” Brady Bagby who is from West Valley High School, Spokane CC, and then played 2 years at Lewis/Clark State College. Brady was Co-MVP of the Recruit League final we had during the Spring and is one of the most competitive players in the city who can do it all. They also have four players 6′-5″ or taller and six of the eight players have played up to atleast the college level. Matt Pigg, Dan Anderson, Daniel G, Matt Garcia, Jesse Hendersen, John Focht, and John Lynch round out the team.

Former Rogers High School stand out and Montana St-Northern college hooper Jesse Vaughan has put together a solid group for the Numerica CU team. This squad has size, shooting, and youth. Of the eight players including- Joseph Bodman (Regis University), Alfie Miller (Montans St-Northern) Will Stensgar(NW Indian College), Zach Nelson(Shoreline CC), Alex Allison(Shoreline CC), and Tre Boyd, they have 7 with college experience and will be a tough team to beat as they also have alot of time playing together at various schools.

 

The Catch Spokane All Stars will be running out a team headlined by Matt Brunell who is a local gone pro success story. His main role, other than being a force in the paint, is to help these younger players develop and provide a steady source of professionalism… and jokes. This exciting and stacked squad will have Levi Taylor- LC Tiger, SCC /NWACC MVP, David Kielian- a super shooter from Othello, Jacob Vargas- solid big man from the Tri Cities who played at SCC with Levi and is on his way to Walla Walla U, Denzel Brantley- Rogers HS and eventual college player still looking for his shot at a roster, Ryan Ricks- former NW Christian state B champ who will be headed to Northwest U in Kirkland, Austin Dill from University HS and currently playing at William Jessup U in CA. This train is going to be conducted by the ultra competitive point guard Ahbrae Harvey who played 2 seasons at SCC but most impressively with the ES Elite squad that has been dominating Spokane basketball leagues for years.

A NO NAME team partially put together by Everett CC bound Markieth Brown, University HS coaches, and league organizers will be another tough out with large amounts of shooting and youth. Josh Hager former U High player and current Walla Walla U sharp shooter, Ray Erwin who was once an East Central elite 3v3 league 4 time champion who played at Greys Harbor, plays anywhere anytime. Himo Bajramovic who is a recent graduate of Lewis and Clark and is looking for his chance to play at the next level. An East Valley High School duo, both headed to Blue Mountain CC next season, Jeremiah Hillard and Treyshaun Bracey, bring some more young legs and scoring punch. Post players Kenny Chandler and Lucas Evans give them some size to defend and even more athleticism, both known for their dunking ability. This team will be fun to watch as they take on the “experienced” teams.

Following that up with another young team of current college players and post high school hoopers is the squad from Medical Lake (mostly). Jaelon Stith, two-time All League performer from Medical Lake and most recently Skagit Valley CC brings with him fellow Cardinals- Donte Brown (Big Bend CC), Cole Soliday, Kevin Broadnax, Ethan Mendoza, Tyler H.   Cheney stud Jamiel Worthem and former West Valley guard and current Wenatchee Valley CC player Austin Yoakum, who is predicted to bring down the house with some serious jams, make up the roster. We should see some fireworks from this crew.

 

Another former pro (and Hoopfest Elite Champion) Bryan Rabas brings in a tough bunch with a combination of experience, versatility, and scoring. Just pick your poison with Integrity Spokane. Corey Allen(Former Hoopfest Elite Champion), Craig Hanson (Current Hoopfest Elite Champion), Anthony Brown(Shadle Park and Eastern Oregon throw back baller), Robert “Big Shot Rob” Lipman (NW Christian and Big Bend CC), the SCC players turned coaches duo of Eric Holbrook and Taylor Peterson, along with another long range 3 point shooter Zach Renner. This team will have nights where they will hit 20 NBA three pointers, watch out.

The Ballaholics which is a name known in the area as a group of all league players from Whitworth University.  They will definitely be vying for the title of Summer Select League Champs. Ross Nakamura who was an all league guard recently, has brought in teammates Dustin McConnel, Colton McGargar, and current EWU Asst Mens coach David Riley. Joining this dangerous foursome is Spokane’s perennial hoop league MVP and former Everett CC baller Dominique McClendon from ES Elite. This is going to be fun to see how he will blend all the same scoring, grit, hustle, shooting, toughness, and all around play he possesses, in with this group of already very accomplished and just purely good ball players. I cannot forget to mention do all and anything players like Mack Larkin, Kevin Bond, and Jacob Evans who give them a very, very solid team.

Lastly we have an always competitive team worthy of a spot in the Final put together by former University Titan and Spokane Community College shooting machine Jared Miller. Players for the ALL STAR SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY team includes former Zags- Rem Bakamus and Mike Hart. Fellow Titans- Cameron Chase, Zech Martin, Zach Bruce(EWU football),and Seth Morgan along with Caleb Spencer and Tanner Brill.

 

Games start Thursday June 29th.

6pm game- Numerica vs Catch Spokane

7pm game- East Central Gold vs Ballaholics

8pm game- Medical Lake vs Integrity Spokane

9pm game- No Name vs All Star Sports Photo

So follow along on WOOTER – “Summer Select League”  for schedules and stats and be sure to check the games in person for free at East Central Community Center. Follow Catch Spokane Sports on the various social media channels as well as Catch Spokane You Tube.