Community Event:
Camden Power Reaches Out Across The Bridge

Wednesday, July 22, 1998

By Art Redd
SJSports Staff Writer

In case you haven't heard, there is a new pro basketball team in New Jersey. As a matter of fact, they are closer than you think. The Camden Power and Gerald "Chip" Mitchell, President and CEO, have been playing all of there home games right here in South Jersey. The Power finished their first season in South Jersey with an 11-15 record and advanced themselves into the playoffs. But they were not limiting there talents just to pro basketball. The Power was one of the sponsors for the three-on-three hoops tournament in Philadelphia.

"This event falls well in line with our out reach efforts to the community," said Keith Pinkney, Business Development Manager for the Camden Power. He went on to say, "Philadelphia, Camden it's all in the same geographic area. It's definitely in our prime target market for us." The Power started there first season in the United States Basketball League (USBL) as the Philadelphia Power in 1997. So being a sponsor for the Hoops City 3 on 3 tournament across the bridge was familiar territory for them.

It's always difficult being the new kid on the block, especially for a basketball team that only a few know about. The Power have been getting themselves exposed to the area by co-sponsoring events throughout the Camden County area. But the other means of exposure to the USBL and the Power is from the coaches and players the league attracts. For instance, the coach for the Power is ex-Sixer player Eric Cureton. The league continues to draw marquee players from college, most of whom were over-looked in the draft. Only a handful of these players may ever realize their dream of playing in the NBA. Often, an NBA contract comes in the form of a preliminary ten-day try out window. So the USBL is another vehicle for basketball athletes to gain exposure and maybe get noticed. Every year the NBA invites over 20 players with USBL experience to participate in tryout camps.

The USBL faces competition from only one source, the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). However, the CBA operates their season during a different time of the year and is based in the Mid-western United States. The USBL is the first and only publicly-traded sports league. The fans are the owners. So, check out the Camden Power at their home facility at Rutgers University in Camden during the USBL season. Click here for roster and schedule.

Photos by Art Redd