The Steel City Yellow Jackets are back and ready to once again fight for an American Basketball Association Championship. They are in their third year in the ABA and feature a new owner, new players and staff, and a brand new facility to call home.
For Pittsburgh fans who are looking for some exciting basketball action, turn no further than the home town team the Steel City Yellow Jackets. The Yellow Jackets are entering their third year playing in the American Basketball Association with some exciting new features coming for the 2016/2017 season.
The Yellow Jackets enter their third year in the American Basketball Association where they have seen success in their first two seasons. Last year, they would finish the year with a record of 10-7 and their second consecutive trip to the ABA playoffs. They would eventually lose to the ABA champion Windy City Groove ending their season. However, 2016/2017 looks to bring another exciting championship run for the Yellow Jackets.
The Yellow Jackets return three stars from last years team including Guard/Forward Antonio Reddic, Guard Gilmore Cummings, and Power Forward Lawrence Baker. All three players have been a part of the Yellow Jackets since their founding in 2014 and have helped lead the team to the playoffs in each of the their first two seasons.
Reddic, an Aliquippa, Pennsylvania native, is entering his third season with the Yellow Jackets being signed in their inaugural 2014 season. He averaged 18 points per game and shot 75% from the Free Throw Line during the 2015/2016 season. He is considered by many to be one of the best defensive players in the ABA. Baker, a Detroit, Michigan native, lead the Yellow Jackets offensively a season ago averaging 28 points per game.
The Yellow Jackets are lead by third year Owner/General Manager/Head Coach Averill Pippens. Coach "Ace", as he is called, has had a track record of success over his coaching career. He started out as an assistant coach at David B. Oliver high school before coming on as an assistant and eventually a head coach for the Penn State McKeesport Men's Basketball team where in 2006, he lead the team to a Men's Basketball Championship. Pippens has lead the Yellow Jackets to the playoffs in each of his first two seasons as head coach. Coach Ace is helped out on his coaching staff by assistants Wayne Copeland and Milan Tyler as well as Team Managers Jason and Dante Pippens and Michael Woods.
The Steel City Yellow Jackets will open up their 2016/2017 season with their first home game on Saturday November 5th against the Kentucky Enforcers at 7 p.m. as they try to make another championship run in 2016/2017. They will follow that up with a game the very next day on November 6th against the Reading Wizards at 5:30 p.m. The games will be played at the Barack Obama Academy Gymnasium located at 515 N. Highland Avenue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Adult tickets are 10 dollars and student tickets are five dollars. There is also a special weekend pass which includes admission for both games.
The Steel City Yellow Jackets are ready to roll this season, so the only question is are you ready to Catch the Buzz.
