Central Basketball Association

The Central Basketball Association, ahead of the "United States versus Canada" All-Star event next week with the North of the Border Basketball League (NBBL), announced their full coaching and 12-man roster this morning. The all-star game, scheduled for Friday, August 22, at Redeemer University in Hamilton, Ontario, will feature the top athletes from the three CBA teams that failed to qualify for the 2014 post-season. They will matchup against the top athletes of the NBBL, whose league only features Canadian players. The all-star event, scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time next Friday night, will feature a three-point competition, slam-dunk contest, and an all-star game. Since the event is being held in Canada, the all-star game will be operated under FIBA rules and regulations, as opposed to the NBA rules used in CBA games in the United States. Participants for the three-point contest and slam-dunk contest will be announced in the coming days. 

Head Coach: Nathan Thompson (Bowling Green Hornets)

• Thompson completed his first full season with Bowling Green in 2014, finishing the season with a 5-5 record, where he saw his team barely miss out on the post season. After starting the season 0-3, Thompson's Hornets won five our of their next six games, including defeating the eventual champions, Middle Tennessee Storm, and regular season champions, Chattanooga Rail Runners. In 2013, Thompson served as the assistant coach for Bowling Green, and coached the team as the interim head coach in the 2013 league championship game.
• In two seasons with the organization, Thompson has coached 17 former NCAA Division-I players, 10 former NAIA Division-I players, and 15 players with international playing experience, including helping five players obtain their first professional basketball contracts overseas. Furthermore, in addition to being the head coach, Thompson also serves as the General Manager for the Bowling Green Hornets organization.
• Thompson was the Athletic Director for Russellville High School, the home for the Bowling Green Hornets, for the last two years, and was an assistant basketball coach for the school for seven years. 

Assistant Coach: Alondray Rogers (Memphis Soul Kings)

• After being announced as the first female head coach in the Central Basketball Association in February of this year, Alondray Rogers led the Memphis Soul Kings to a 4-6 record in the organization's first season. Three out of the four victories for the club came against the 2013 league champions and 2014 league runner's up, St. Louis Hawks.
• Rogers, who played for the Southern Illinois Salukis from 1979-1981, and averaged 9.1 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game during her two seasons at SIU, was one of the most dominant two-way players for the school during that era. She led the team in blocked shots during both the 1979-1980 season and the 1980-1981 season, as well as leading the Salukis in steals during her senior year in 1981. Rogers currently ranks as having the 8th-best rebounding per game average and 7th-best in total steals, in Southern Illinois Women's Basketball history.
• Rogers began coaching in 1987, where for the next 25-plus years, she helped developed one of the most successful Pro-Am teams that the Southern United States has ever seen. From winning her first championship in Louisiana in 1987, to her most-recent title in Alabama in 2013, Rogers has coached her local over-25 and over-35 teams to nearly fifteen tournament championships. During her illustrious career, she has successfully coached against many NBA players, including James Harden (Houston Rockets), Glen "Big Baby" Davis (Orlando Magic), Joe Johnson (Brooklyn Nets), Thaddeus Young (Philadelphia 76ers), and John Hanson (Milwaukee Bucks). 

Team Captain: Justin Taylor (Bowling Green Hornets)

• Taylor, who recently completed his second season with the Hornets, served as the captain for the club in 2014, as well as the assistant captain in 2013. The 6-3, 200-pound combo guard from Lexington, Kentucky, played collegiate basketball at NCAA Division-I, Tennessee Tech University, and NAIA Division-I, Georgetown College. In 2013, Taylor was named league MVP Runner-Up, as he averaged 19.3 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game, 3.4 assists per game, and 2.4 steals per game. In 2014, Taylor was named 2nd-Team CBA All-Star, as he averaged 16.5 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, 4.5 assists per game, and 1.9 steals per game. Taylor has previous international experience, as he played professionally in Portugal, following his college graduation. 

Assistant Captain: Jason Angel (River City Panthers)

• Angel, who also recently completed his second season with his respective club, the River City Panthers out of Peoria, Illinois, has been the heart and soul of his team. The 6-3, 170-pound shooting guard from Kewanee, Illinois, played collegiately at Sauk Valley CC, and has been named on the league all-star teams for two consecutive seasons. Angel, who has been popular in the CBA for his field goal accuracy and his rebounding effort, was in the top-five in three statistical categories this past season. In 2014, Angel averaged 22.1 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game, and 2.2 steals per game. In 2013, Angel averaged 16.5 points per game, 9.0 rebounds per game, and 2.2 steals per game. 

Guards:

• Edward Graves (Memphis Soul Kings)
  • Size: 6-4, 185
  • College: (none)
  • Hometown: Memphis, Tenn.
  • 2014 Season: 10.2 points per game
• Kalen Kimberland (Bowling Green Hornets)
  • Size: 6-0, 170
  • College: Lindsey Wilson College (Columbia, Ky.)
  • Hometown: Columbia, Ky.
  • 2014 Season: 15.1 points per game, 3.7 assists per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, 1.4 steals per game
• Brandon Lee (River City Panthers)
  • Size: 6-0, 180
  • College: Northwestern University (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Hometown: Peoria, Ill.
  • 2014 Season: 15.7 points per game, 4.6 assists per game, 3.2 rebounds per game, 1.2 steals per game
• Ronald Lucas III (Fort Wayne Flite)
  • Size: 6-4, 195
  • College: Columbus State CC (Columbus, Ohio)
  • Hometown: Fort Wayne, Ind.
  • 2014 Season: 6.9 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game, 1.5 steals per game
• Rockie Robinson (River City Panthers)
  • Size: 6-2, 190
  • College: University of Illinois-Springfield (Springfield, Ill.)
  • Hometown: Springfield, Ill.
  • 2014 Season: 17.0 points per game, 8.0 rebounds per game, 3.2 assists per game, 2.2 steals per game
• Michael Stone (Bowling Green Hornets)
  • Size: 6-3, 190
  • College: Transylvania University (Lexington, Ky.)
  • Hometown: Lexington, Ky.
  • 2014 Season: 6.5 points per game, 3.2 rebounds per game

Forwards:

• Tyrell Hursey (Memphis Soul Kings)
  • Size: 6-5, 200
  • College: Victory University (Memphis, Tenn.)
  • Hometown: Memphis, Tenn.
  • 2014 Season: 17.5 points per game
• John Paul Nyadaro (Bowling Green Hornets)
  • Size: 6-9, 210
  • College: Trevecca Nazarene University (Nashville, Tenn.)
  • Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya
  • 2014 Season: 12.6 points per game, 6.1 rebounds per game, 1.6 blocks per game, 1.4 steals per game
• DeAntra Scott (Bowling Green Hornets)
  • Size: 6-5, 180
  • College: Lindsey Wilson College (Columbia, Ky.)
  • Hometown: Gosnell, Ark.
  • 2014 Season: 14.6 points per game, 7.4 rebounds per game, 2.0 steals per game, 1.4 blocks per game
• Christian Siakam (Bowling Green Hornets)
  • Size: 6-7, 255
  • College: IUPUI (Indianapolis, Ind.)
  • Hometown: Douala, Cameroon
  • 2014 Season: 6.0 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game