(Greensboro, North Carolina): The American Basketball Association (ABA) www.abalive.com on Tuesday (March 13th) announced its 2011-12 ABA All Star Teams. For the first time ever, a professional sports league has created three separate teams which will compete against one another in a round robin tournament during the ABA Final Four Championship Playoffs.
“The three ABA All Star teams will play a round robin tournament for prize money which will give them added incentive to perform at peak level – it will be a winner take all format, the team winning two games will get the trophies and prize money,” stated Dick Packer, ABA President/COO. “Is this unusual? You bet…but innovation is the heart and soul of the ABA and we think the fans will enjoy the new All Star format.”
The Triad’s own Chris Woods was selected as an ABA All-Star and will represent his Carolina Cheetahs team respectively. Chris Woods is an undersized post player who goes all out on every play. He has been underestimated his entire career and uses that as motivation to get him to where he is today.
Tommy Stevenson, The Carolina Cheetahs owner, Director of Basketball Operations and Mid-Atlantic Division Chairman said, “Chris is a very good player who loves the game and is very aggressive on both ends of the court. He is the unquestioned leader of the Cheetahs and leads by example as well as being vocal when needed. He is a quality young man who I’m extremely pleased to have as a part of our program.”
#12 Chris Woods is a native of Greensboro, North Carolina and is a force not to be confronted on the court. This 6’6”Power Forward attended Thomasville High School, Pfeiffer University and has played overseas in Germany professionally. Mr. Woods averages 18.3 points per game and 8.9 rebounds per game (home games stats only).
When asked about his achievement as an All-Star, Chris Woods humbly said, “I just want to give thanks to God, my family, my teammates and coach, because without them none of this would be possible!”
Head Men’s Coach Kristina Baugh nominated Chris and said, “Chris is a walking Double Double every time he steps on the floor. Goes all out on every play and takes great pride in his performance. He the best I’ve seen at “T” up in the post. He is our go-to-guy as evidenced by three 3-point plays in close wins against New Hope, Fayetteville, and Johnson City.”
The Carolina Cheetahs are proud of Chris Woods and look forward to a win with his lead this weekend in the ABA Divisional Playoffs in South Carolina March 17th & 18th. The Carolina Cheetahs play the #1 Ranked South Carolina Warriors on Saturday and the winner goes on to play in the finals on Sunday.
Here are the ABA All-Star Line Ups:
ABA All Star White Team – Head Coach – Butch Baird, South Carolina Warriors
PG Mike Vogler, SC Warriors
PG Chico Fletcher, NE Arkansas SWAG
SG Deandre Hall, Texas FUEL
SG Saire Taylor, Staten Island Vipers
SF Damien Hubbard, Lynchburg Legends
SF Dontgae Hilton, Memphis Bluff City Reign
PF Chris Woods, Carolina Cheetahs
PF Carl Artids, Alaska Drive
C Jermaine Bell, Jacksonville Giants
C Keith Closs, LA SLAM
ABA All Star Blue Team – Head Coach – Zack Jones, San Diego Sol
PG KJ Lawrence, Little Rock Lightning
PG Deangelo Jackson, Sacramento Heatwave
SG Cordell Butler, San Francisco RUMBLE
SG Eli Muldrow, Conway Cyclones
SF John Clark, San Diego Sol
SF Andre Muse, Chicago Steam
PF Shawn Buckingham, Port City Pirates
PF Matt Fields, Jacksonville Giants
C Jimmy Allen, East Bay Pit Bulls
C Michael Travis, San Francisco RUMBLE
ABA All Star Red Team – Head Coach – Eric Stoffel, Colorado Kings
PG Brian Calloway, Fayetteville Flight
PG Tony White, South Carolina Warriors
SG Corey Campbell, Colorado Kings
SG Sheldon Carter, Carolina Cougars
SF Jack Brown, Richmond Elite
SF Marlo Sanders, West Texas Whirlwinds
PF Nick Barton, Missouri Rhythm
PF Justin Barber, Richmond Rockets
C Rob Turner, Arizona Scorpions
C Marcus Stockton, Colorado Kings
Dick Packer said , “This season, the ABA had over 700 very good players, truly outstanding talent. It was very difficult to choose and our method of selection came from nominations from the teams as to their outstanding players. We think these 45 represent the cream of the crop from those nominated.”
For more information about the Carolina Cheetahs, including team photos, news, video, and game schedules, please visit www.carolinacheetahs.com to connect, share and buy tickets online.
About the Carolina Cheetahs Professional Basketball Team:
The Carolina Cheetahs ABA organization is a local expansion franchise that began play for their first season November 2011. The organization is dedicated to providing affordable, family-fun entertainment to the community; in addition to providing local athletes an opportunity to play on a professional level. The Carolina Cheetahs represent the greater Piedmont Triad communities of Greensboro, Winston Salem, and High Point. The organization will give back to its community by providing scholarships, basketball camps and empowerment camps for children and their parents and classes on financial freedom. The Cheetahs are one of three teams owned by the Carolina Cats Sports & Entertainment Group Inc, the other two being the Raleigh-based Carolina Jaguars and the Rocky Mount-based Carolina Cougars.
About the American Basketball Association, Inc. (ABA):
The ABA is the largest professional sports league in the US with over ninety (94) teams based in the US and internationally. It is also the most diverse professional sports league in history with over 75% of its teams owned by women and minorities. The ABA has made professional basketball fan-friendly and affordable and it teams are committed to working closely with the youth in their communities. The ABA provides over 1000 players, 200 coaches and 200 referees the opportunity to work and compete at the professional level. The league announced its new ABA Classics Division, a celebrity-backed prize money league that will begin summer 2012; the WABA, a women’s league that began play January 2012, ABA Global, its international initiative and the ABA Entertainment League featuring top entertainers, directors, producers and former NFL, NBA, MLB players that began in October 2011. Visit www.abalive.com for more information.