Summer Pro League
From Hoopedia
The Los Angeles Summer Pro League (SPL) is the longest running summer basketball league in the world. SPL and Nike will host the 2007 Summer Pro League presented by Nike Basketball. The SPL is entering its 38th season, having had every NBA team as a past participant. Players like Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Paul Pierce and Amare Stoudemire, who began their NBA careers in the SPL, have become NBA Superstars.
The Summer Pro League seeks not only to provide an opportunity for NBA hopefuls to showcase their talents, but also to refine their skills both on and off the court. Several former NBA players will be brought in to help instruct participants on how to progress to the next level as they go through an intense three-day tryout camp. SPL embodies Nike's slogan "Just do it" as players like Marquis Daniels and Eduardo Najera, who began their careers in the SPL, and made it to the NBA without ever being drafted.
The Summer Pro League will also be adding an element that focuses on good citizenship in the community, with rewards to players, teachers, and students from local schools. The SPL will host two Kids Clinics in July, which will give youth a chance to learn offensive drills, defensive techniques and the importance of schoolwork, teamwork, and being an asset to the community from Nike athletes.
With Nike's involvement, for the first time, players from all around the world will have the opportunity to compete at Nike's facility, The Point, in Hollywood, California. The Point will also host one of the two Kids Clinics, as well as six other SPL games during the league. At the Pyramid in Long Beach there will be eight jam-packed games daily from July 8 to July 15, an opportunity to watch over 50 games. The season will tip off on Sunday night, July 8 at 5PM at the Pyramid.
