GLEN GRUNWALD
Hutch Post
WICHITA, Kan.-The Wichita Sky Kings will make their 2023 season debut as one of the newest franchises of The Basketball League (TBL) March 3rd on the road against the Southeast Texas Panthers whose home base is located in Beaumont, Texas.
The newest Pro Basketball Wichita franchise is part of the Central division of the TBL. The Sky Kings is the latest venture from businessman Ben Hamd and his wife Lydia, who have investments in Wichita. Hamd is trying to generate interest in the newest pro team in Wichita. He is offering competitive pay to attract qualified pros and he has already rented out and paid for an entire season’s worth of games for the team to play at Koch Arena, which will be an outstanding venue for The Basketball League.
The Sky Kings will be coached by Sean Flynn, the former Pratt Community College Coach who coached the Beavers in the KJCCC from 2018-2021.
Researching every player on Wichita’s roster you will notice that each player has made at least 40% of their 3-pointers at some level, whether it was in college or in the professional ranks. Flynn's contacts at the colleges have helped him land some of the top shooters available in the country.
One example is Charlie Marquardt, a former Division 2 sharpshooter who hit 14 3-pointers in a game in TBL play last season, Kam Williams, a 2018 Ohio State graduate who averaged 17.1 points in Denmark last year, and Matt Cerruti, a recent Albany grad who made 45% of his 3-pointers and averaged 11.3 points last season. Other Wichita Sky Kings signings include veteran point guard Derrick Colter, a 4-year starter at Duquesne who has played overseas in Portugal, France, Ukraine and Switzerland, Jachai Simmons, a 6-7 swing man in the TBL last season averaged 21 points per game, Julian Winton, a 2018 Tabor College graduate who averaged 25 points in the TBL last season, and Damari Milstead, who just finished his college career by averaging 12.1 points at Cal State Fullerton.
A very familiar name to local fans is Teddy Allen, who starred last season at New Mexico State, where he scored 37 points to lead the Aggies to an NCAA tournament upset over Connecticut. Allen also spent a year redshirting with the Wichita State Shockers, but never played for the team. Allen helped recruit two other former Aggies in Terrell Brown, a guard who shot 43% on threes in a season and was a former all-WAC player, and Johnny McCants, a 6-foot-7 forward who was an all-WAC defensive team player under former WSU assistant, Chris Jans last season.
The team is currently conducting two-a-day practices at Calvary Church on Rock Road in Wichita. The Sky Kings will play in two scrimmages before the season and they hope to make an addition or two when the NBA G-League season is completed.
The Sky Kings will debut in Wichita on March 17 at 7 p.m. at Koch Arena versus the Shreveport, Louisiana Mavericks. All road and home games will be streamed the the TBL.TV Network which is a pay-per-view network. EAGLE Media Hutchinson's Sports Director Glen Grunwald will provide play-by-play for the Sky Kings home games assisted by Landon Wiseley, providing color analysis.
Season tickets are $99 for all 13 home games and all seats are general admission. All kids 10 years old and younger get in absolutely free.
Hamd promises a very entertaining family experience similar to many NBA arenas throughout the nation. For more information, go to www.wichitaskykings.com.
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