FORT WORTH: Fall League Preview

By James Jones | Fort Worth League Coordinator

With the Fall League season sneaking up on us and starting this Wednesday, we kick off the season with the Fall League Preview. There are definitely more questions than answers with this preview. First of all, will the defending champs, Pink Flamingos, be able to defend their title and raise another banner to the rafters? As Lee Corso would say, "Not so fast my friend". The league returns the majority of its players but will look a whole lot different. Not to mention, the joining of a whole new team with all new faces from the Colleyville Club. To say that each team has rebuilt and is gunning for the Birds, would be a major understatement. So lets take a look at each team. 

Pink Flamingos

The champs return in almost full form with one small exception: They dropped perimeter sharp shooter Jaymes Downer and replaced him with league newcomer but open gym regular Tony Accaoui. The Birds will for sure be in the championship mix with the return of 6'8 MVP, Cody Brazelton, and 7-footer, Chad Rykhoek. Plus, they have played for awhile together and have team chemistry which gives them a slight advantage over every other team in the league. 

LT-Colleyville

You guessed it, this is the team from our Colleyville Club. Team Captain, Matt Kaler, has built a solid squad around him in which rumor has it at least one played professionally overseas. I don't know much about this team, but what I do know is if you are going to travel to play ball, you better make sure you have a chance at winning. So I expect them to play well and time will tell how good this team is and where they will be in the power rankings. 

Rough Riders

This is a new team but made of mostly league returners with 3 new pieces added in. Dominique Burnett's runner-up team from last season, Dem Boyz, got dismantled as 3 to 4 guys did not return for various legit reasons. So Dom got to work recruiting. He adds trash-talking extraordinaire Glen Nichols, Mouth of the South Terrell Harmon from the disbanded The MOB, sharp shooter Jaymes Downer from the Pink Flamingos, post player Charles Cheverette from The MOB, and hustler Chris Poplaski from Dem Boyz. Then add in three newcomers in Champ Grayson, Will Sweeney, and James Mauro. Grayson will help fill the void of Turmaine Rice and I have no scouting report on Mauro or Sweeney. It could come down to post play for this team to be successful as they have perimeter players galore. Will there be enough touches to keep everyone happy will be a key factor. 

Ball Don't Lie

Another new team made up of mostly league returners with some new pieces added in. Team captain, Lamont Stokes, looks to have added some key components to help them be more successful this season. He returns Defensive Player of the Year, Sean Thomas, outside shooter Danny Garcia and Billy Thomas from their Ballers squad. They added an athletic player in Carl Granger, in which rumor has it played overseas as well. Then they bring over point guard Pierre Tompkins from The MOB, who also brings a tag along in his cousin, JaDarrian Brown. The last two additions are agents, David Friedman and Will Daniel. No doubt this team added pieces and have made themselves better and more competitive. 

The Leftovers

Last but not least, the team made of leftovers and free agents. Post player, Dwayne McDonald is solid and smooth, and can move well for a big man. He will be a force to be reckoned with. They also have solid perimeter play in newcomers Jamaal Booker and Wes Wermuth. Throw in solid post player Brian Butterweck who ranked in the top 10 in PPR from last season, streaky shooter Shane Goodwin and Jason Morra along with free agents Victor Manta and Ryan Hooper and this team may surprise some people.

See you on Wednesday as the world of unknowns begins to turn.