Opportunities on the court
Eleven players selected to Iowa Basketball Exposure League
By Matt “It’s MillerTime” Miller
The City of Des Moines has been home to a number of basketball teams ranging from the Des Moines Dragons to the Iowa Energy. But thanks to innovative thinking by the Iowa Professional Basketball LLC, three new teams will be making their way into the metro next year. The Central Iowa Hybrids, Iowa Wind Turbines and the Des Moines Hydrogen, all part of the Iowa Basketball Exposure League (IBEL), will tip off for the late spring 2010 season.
“The league is for players who have already graduated from college and want to have the opportunity to play,” said coach Alan Chartrand. “Video highlights and statistics will then be posted online for coaches around the world to see their talent. Hopefully the players will then be contacted by coaches and agents to professionally play somewhere.”
Owned and operated by the Iowa Professional Basketball LCC, the league plans to develop 30 to 40 players for international teams and the NBA’s Developmental League. Des Moines is already home to the Iowa Energy, which has affiliations with the NBA’s Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns.
The league held its open tryouts for the 2010 season on Nov. 28. Eleven players were selected with international, NCAA, NCCAA, NAIA and JUCO experience. According to www.ibelhoops.com, the league plans to hold another open tryout April 24, 2010, for college seniors and current professionals. The IBEL Draft will then be held April 25, 2010.
“I’m really excited to play in a league with a lot of tough competitiveness and the opportunity for players to be exposed,” said Dontaye Hinton, a recent Bethel University (Tenn.) graduate, who was one of the 11 players selected to participate in the upcoming season. “I felt tryouts went well, and it was a good camp. There are a number of players with a lot of talent. Hopefully it works out for the best for everyone.”
The level of talent at the tryouts also excited Chartrand.
“I was very pleased with how tryouts went,” he said. “Players have to do their homework to be selected to the league. Some players did that. The others will have another chance in the upcoming months.”
The road to playing in the Iowa Basketball Exposure League for Hinton and others has been a long and rigorous one. While at Bethel University, Hinton started at the guard and forward position averaging 18.1 points per game, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists. Four other Bethel University (Tenn.) players have been selected to participate in the league, too. Hinton says he’s always wanted to play professional basketball.
“Since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to play basketball at a high level,” he said. “I really don’t have a certain location that I want to play in, so whatever is offered is all right with me.”
The Iowa Basketball Exposure League will open the season May 29, 2010. All games will be played at the Des Moines Christian School, 13007 Douglas Parkway, in Urbandale. With only a few months until the opening tip, Chartrand believes that league will be a stepping-stone for many of the players.
“I think it’s a really exciting time for players to have this type of exposure to an endless number of coaches and teams,” he said. “This scenario is much more beneficial for players who may have a tryout in Las Vegas and then are cut the next day. Here you’re able to play in the league.”
Locker Room note: The Iowa Basketball Exposure League will host cheer squad tryouts Jan. 9, 2010, at Champions Sports Center, 4600 Park Ave. The dance and cheer tryout will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Visit www.lastingimpressionsevents.net or call (641) 799-1076. CV
Caption: Dontaye Hinton has made his way from Bethel University (Tenn.) to play for the Iowa Basketball Exposure League. Photo courtesy of IBEL
