With the official confirmation of the launch of the Basketball Super League now a few weeks behind them, it's on to the task of putting together a winning roster for Sudbury Five coach and GM Logan Stutz and company.
The team confirmed recently the return of a pair of returnees to Sudbury in the form of A.J. Mosby and Duane Notice, as well as newcomer to the north Jalen Hayes - a familiar face who was most recently with the KW Titans of the NBLC.
Averaging more than 20 points per game for the Five in 2022-2023, Mosby returns to Sudbury fresh off a rookie season that earned him the 2023 NBLC Newcomer of the Year award as well as a spot on the league's all-star team.
A product of the Alcorn State NCAA program, Mosby has spent time in the NBA G-League with both the North Arizona Sun Kings and Erie Bay Hawks, and also travelled overseas to compete in the Republic of Georgia.
A 6'3" guard, Mosby will be joined in the Sudbury backcourt by Woodbridge (ON) native Duane Notice, a 29 year-old veteran of the pro ranks who is expected to continue to contribute with his own brand of toughness and leadership.
After averaging more than eight points a game last year with the Five, the alumnus of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks signed on with the Vancouver Bandits of the Canadian Elite Basketball League this past summer.
A member of Canadian bronze medal winning entries to the FIBA Americas U16 Championship (2009), the FIBA U17 World Cup (2010) and the FIBA Americas U18 Championship (2012), Notice has also spent time in Poland as well as with the Toronto Raptors 905 team.
A native of Lansing (MI) and graduate of the Oakland Golden Grizzlies NCAA program, Jalen Hayes started all 26 games with the Titans last year, netting more than 14 points per game and chipping in with five rebounds per game as well.
A 6'7" forward, Hayes has extensive international experience, suiting up in leagues in Britain, Switzerland and, most recently Italy.
It's all making for a very interesting off-season as Stutz looks to assemble a roster to compete in a league which will include some very familiar opponents (KW Titans, London Lightning, Windsor Express), some relative newcomers (Montreal Toundra, Newfoundland Rogues), but also some cross-over TBL games that should be intriguing (Reading Rebels, L.A. Ignite, Glass City Wranglers).
"Traditionally, it's been more of a springboard league; our goal is for this to be a destination league," said Stutz. "I look at this new league as a promotion. I am thankful for everything that NBL Canada provided, but I think this will take us to the next level."
"This is my fourth year with the team and I am just as excited as my first year."
In addition to welcoming some brand new opponents, the lineup of the Five, itself, is due for a bit of an overhaul.
"I think we moved five guys from last year's team off to overseas contracts," noted Stutz. "That's very rewarding for our organization. It was time for some of those guys to make the next step - so we need to refresh a little, like every sport organization, bring in some new faces and see where it goes."
In town for the announcement of the new Basketball Super League, commissioner Dave Magley explained why their partnership with the TBL works so well. "We own both leagues," said Magley. "We recognized that by owning both leagues, we have the flexibility to work together."
For instance, while the L.A. Ignite will make a visit to Sudbury, the Five will not have to carry the burden of a road trip to Southern California.
That said, Magley is excited about the poential that lies within a BSL loop that begins with six Canadian franchises this year with the hopes of adding another six market American grouping for 2024-2025.
"We want this positioned right behind the NBA G-League," he said. "Thank god for the NBLC and the things that they built, the markets they created and the great games that have been played. Now we hope to expand it."
The Five are set to open their 2023-2024 schedule on Thursday December 28th, with the London Lightning in town.
