Shuckers Bring Pro Basketball to Anne Arundel County

Local basketball fans will soon have another option when looking for entertainment and a team to call their own as the Atlantic Coast Professional Basketball League (ACPBL) has expanded its franchise to Anne Arundel County beginning with the 2011-12 season.

The league will grow from eight to 14 teams with 15 players on the roster and a 12-man active roster for each game with teams in Virginia, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.

"The bulk of the ownership group are Anne Arundel County guys and we really felt that bringing a pro team to the county would work," said John Wolfe, Shuckers owner/general manager and a longtime Pasadena resident. "We really feel that the community will embrace the team and love having a pro team in their backyard."

Wolfe is one of 10 Shuckers owners, who work full-time jobs outside of this new venture. Bay Area Sports LLC is owned by Jim Hopkins of Severna Park, Paul Clary Sr. of Baltimore, Joe Golden, part owner of Tall Oaks Restaurant and resident of Pasadena, Chuck Green of Brooklyn Park, Dante’ D.F. Howard of Randallstown, Chris Jones of Elkton, Brian K. Marchetti of Baltimore, Robert Portch of Columbia, Kevin Severe of Glen Burnie and Wolfe.

All of the Shuckers owners were involved with the late Baltimore Mariners pro arena football team, said Jim Hopkins of Severna Park. "We decided as a group to do this our way and the right way. We aren't in this to become millionaires but to provide affordable fun for families and for us to continue to work in minor leagues and pro sports.

"By the time you leave your car to when you get back to your car- you will have one heck of a good time, you will not be bored," said Hopkins. "It's all about getting fans involved, it is golden and so much fun."

Hopkins said the group will be involved in the community and will be hosting charitable events, as they did when they were with the Mariners.

"This is an idea I have been working on for a few years. As a county resident, I just felt that this is something that the fans of this area would be drawn to and they would love to have a pro team they could call their own," said Wolfe, who said he's been involved in sports his entire life as a player, coach, in the back office and professionally for five years.

The company hopes to announce their practice and game venue within the coming weeks, and is planning to have two open tryouts this summer, Wolfe said.

The team will hold a training camp and then practice one night a week. There will be one game a week starting in December.

The ACPBL is scheduled to tip-off its second season the weekend of Dec. 3 with the championship game slated for April 1, 2012. The Shuckers will play a 14-game schedule, including seven games at home. The team will announce its venue in the upcoming weeks.

Season tickets are available for $49 through Sept. 30 as part of the team’s "More Shucks for Your Bucks" campaign.  Tickets are available through www.BayAreaShuckers.com.

Single game and group tickets will go on sale in the fall. Single game tickets will start at $4 for children ages 3 through 10, $8 for seniors and the military, and $10 for all others age 11 and older.

Shuckers Kids Club memberships are also available for $26.99 and include a limited edition Shuckers Kids Club T-shirt, which kids can wear for free access to every home game, and club members can participate in a special contest and autograph area at all home games.

The team is also searching for a head coach so interested coaches may send resumes to John.Wolfe@bayareashuckers.com or Chris.Jones@bayareashuckers.com.

Interested players may fill out the player application at: www.bayareashuckersbasketball.com/player-app.html.

For more information on the Bay Area Shuckers, visit www.BayAreaShuckers.com.