This fall, Olympia will welcome it’s second minor league basketball team to town when the Olympia Rise will compete in the wide ranging ABA. I caught up with Rise General Manager Chris Reynolds to learn a little bit more about the South Sound’s newest team…

What are your expectations for the Rise both on the court and business-wise in the first season?

“Our goals for the first season is to first put together a competitive team. We expect to use ths summer to find the best 12-15 players to run with the RISE for the 2012-13 season. The ABA has more than 80 plus teams in the league and we do not just want to be another team in the ABA. We expect to compete for the Pacific Northwest Championship, be nationally ranked our 1st year, and make it to the ABA Playoffs in 2013.

Our plan is to get involved with the community as much as possible. As we are providing our players a platform to excel in their own basketball career, we also want to make sure we are giving back to the community. We have already teamed up with the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Thurston County and plan to do many things with the youth over the summer and during the season.

The Olympia RISE is a product of Reynolds Sports Entertainment Inc – A Washington State Not for Profit. As we will be giving back to the community, we also will need support from the community to make sure our program succeeds.”

Tell me about the name, why the Olympia Rise?

“To be honest the name evolved into the RISE from nowhere! It just popped into my head. As we searched for the perfect market to bring a new ABA team, the mascot name only change once. I had considered starting the team in Oregon, naming the team the Oregon Reign. But decided to bring the team home to Lakewood, WA area where I was raised. After doing a little research, I came across the IBL team the Olympia Reign, so the name needed a change. The new team name became the Lakewood RISE. After initiating the purchase of the market, I was beat to the punch by another new owner. We were back in search of a new market. The Olympia market was available along with others north of Seattle and east of the mountains. We decided on the Capital city and the Olympia RISE was born.”

You’ve had at least one tryout. How did that go? Find any keepers?

“We actually did not have the first tryout. We had scheduled the tryout on the same date as the first ABA league meeting, so we cancelled. Our first tryout will be June 17th at River Ridge High School from 1pm to 5pm.
We have unofficially signed one player so far. Central Washington University’s and former 2011 GNAC Tournament MVP, GNAC newcomer of the year, Jamar Berry. Jamar has just returned from overseas playing pro ball in Germany.”

We also have our eye on a few other players from Evergreen State, St Martin’s, and Western Washington University. I have a good feeling that we will have a good squad for our Inaugural Season.

I’ve followed the ABA for years but for most in the area, this is a completely new league. What can you tell readers about the league? Special rules? What will the competition be like?

“The original ABA was founded in 1967, competing with the well-established National Basketball Association, until the ABA-NBA merger in 1976.

The ABA is known for its Red, White, & Blue balls and players like Dr.J. and a few NBA team suchas the San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, & New (York) Jersey Nets.

The new ABA was brought back, I believe in 2001 by now Commisioner Joe Newman and now has over 80 plus teams across the United States. The ABA is now the largest professional league in the United States. The ABA is also the league that has the most diversified group of team owners.

There are a few rules that will need to be learned and some getting used to, such as the 3D Rule

3D Rule – To sum this up, if a ball is stolen within the backcourt, the 3D rule is in effect. Basically when the 3-D Rule is on, an additional point is added to the point value of the field goal. (i.e. two point (2pt) baskets count as three, three point (3pt) baskets count as four).

There are a few more like the…

Back Down Rule
6th Foul Rule
Overtime Rule

The ABA rules can bee seen at www.abalive.com

As for competition…

The ABA has former NBA players, former International players, for collegiate athletes, and other talented community player on select rosters. Majority of the players are attempting to reach the next level or attempting to maintain that competitive nature. As for the Pacific Northwest Division, we will have to see. Majority of the teams are new to the league or are in their second year of building. The Seattle Mountaineers will be the only vetern team of the league. I believe the division is wide open for the taking!”

Thanks Chris for you responses. Oly Sports will have coverage of the Rise throughout their inaugural season at The Evergreen State College.