Kansas City, we finally have a professional basketball team. As reported by KC Star’s Gary Bedore, the new North American Premier Basketball League will host the “KC Buzz” along with seven other teams. The league will consist of KC, Vancover, B.C.; Yakima, WS; Mesquite, NV; Owensboro, KY; Akron, OH; Rochester, NY and Albany, NY. The league will have 32 regular season games expecting to start around Jan. 1, 2018. All eight teams will make the playoffs as well. 

Why the name “The Buzz”? 

  “We were trying a play on words marketing-wise — to make Municipal ‘The Hive’ to see what all the buzz is all about,” said former University of Kansas forward Calvin Thompson, the team’s coach. Thompson played for KU from 1982-86.

  “KC Splash” was also an option for the team name in honor of Kansas City being the city of fountains. Coach Thompson questioned the name saying “What would the mascot be? A waterfall?”

  Obviously the natural question now is who will be on the team? For now we know two things. Former KU players Sherron Collins and Kevin Young will be on the roster. The team is also seeking out former K-state players and Missouri players.

  “This will not be a Jayhawk team just because I am a Jayhawk,” Thompson said. “Guys are everywhere.” He noted there are talented players from Park, Penn Valley, Emporia State and other junior and four-year colleges who figure to attend the Saturday combine.
 The rest of the team will be filled out by an upcoming draft and player combine this Saturday. You can also try out for the “Buzz” this Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kansas City. For more information about the league and the combine visit their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/napbasketball/