A League of Opportunity

NEW HAVEN, Ct. -- There's a brand new basketball revolution set to start in North Carolina later this month.

After a college hoop season that saw the Tar Heels and Blue Devils fall short in their championship pursuits, and the NBA Bobcats fail to look like a professional team on most nights, a new group of hoopsters are looking to make their mark on a local and national scale.

Say hello to the 5’9″ @9′ Basketball League -- the premier national league for men under 5-feet-10. Founded in 2010 by Durham native Steve McRae, the 5’9″ Basketball League includes players who are 5-feet-9 or shorter and the rim is lowered from the traditional 10-foot to 9-foot.

For many amateur and or retired pro players, the league give one a true opportunity to play

Speaking on "The Batchelor Pad" radio show this past Monday, McRae talked about the league and his passion for the game. "I'm sure that there are many players at that height want to take their game to another level, but get overlooked by the NBA and other leagues", said McRae.

"We feel that this league will give these players an opportunity to showcase their talents in a way that no one else has ever seen before. We've been at several college games seeking players from all levels"

"There are a lot of very skilled basketball players who are denied the opportunity of league play simply because of being too short!"

An amateur league and a season ending tournament that was held in January got the ball rolling for McRae and his group. Now the inaugural pro season is set to begin in earnest later this month. In fact, Durham is one of four cities in the state of North Carolina (Charlotte, Fayetteville, and Greensboro) that will have squads this season.

McRae added that he hopes to add teams in Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta.by 2013. "Ideally, we'd like to have a presence in all existing NBA cities," McRae said. "The ultimate goal is to create a national league for men under 5-feet-10 that's similar to the NBA."

June 16th is the date for the league's debut with another amateur tournament slated for August.

NOTE: For more information, log on to www.All-Nets.com.