PG Valor basketball team powers forward to reach new heights
LANDOVER, Md. — American Basketball Association (ABA) expansion team PG Valor Basketball announces more organizational changes as season 6 approaches.
On May 12th, LaDonna and PG Valor’s new potential coach met at the Jasper’s Restaurant in Largo, MD. When Ms. Smith arrived, the staff of the restaurant asked “how many are in your party”. She responded, “Two…I’m meeting a really tall guy”. All three staff members knew exactly who she was talking about and directed her to where the “tall man” was sitting. While there, they exchanged expectations, ideas and enjoyed a meal. As she walked to her car Ms. Smith had a renewed sense of optimism and excitement. The “tall man” was none other than Georgetown University legend-Michael Graham.
Whether you are locally in the DMV or not you may have heard the name “Michael Graham”. Michael Graham is a 6’9 Power Forward who attended Spingarn High School located in the Nation’s Capital of Washington DC. He is a retired American basketball player who signed with future Hall of Fame coach John Thompson at Georgetown University. In the 1984 Final Four, he led the Hoyas to a victory over the Houston Cougars for the national championship. In the championship game, Graham scored 14 points on 7-9 shooting and was one of two Georgetown players to be named to the All-Final Four team along with Most Outstanding Player Patrick Ewing. Although he did not make the final roster, Graham was drafted by the NBA’s Seattle Supersonics in the fourth round of the draft (76th pick overall). He has also played several seasons in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA), for the Albany Patroons, Charleston Gunners, Wyoming Wildcatters, Rochester Flyers, Tulsa Fast Breakers and Columbus Horizon.Graham also played in Europe and South America. Mr. Graham is also the president of Bounce Back Legends-a non-profit organization whose mission according to their website is “to leverage our love of our young men, women, and our youth providing them with sports, education, arts, and health to build friendship, mentorship and fellowship to uplift the youth and young adults in neighborhoods around the Washington, DC area. Our vision is to connect diverse communities and generations of people around the world through our shared love for providing knowledge for the youth through the community, health, education, and sports.” Graham is also currently working on writing and publishing his book “The Forgotten Hoya”.
“I am humbled that this 5’4 girl from Fairmount Heights, MD received God’s grace to work with a giant-literally. I think the top of my head comes around his rib cage and it looks like he has to fold his body in half to hug me-but together I think that we will have an amazing opportunity to do amazing things on and off the court. In all seriousness, I trust Mike with this team-not because of what he says he can do-but because of what God has revealed to me that he has done in his own life. PG Valor players will have an experienced basketball legend as well as those that he will be bringing on board to assist him- living in his purpose and goal of mentoring, teaching, encouraging, disciplining and imparting to them both on and off the court. I may actually get to focus on off the court operations and not lose my voice after every game while coaching from the bleachers like I’ve had to do in previous seasons…lol”, stated LaDonna M. Smith, Owner of PG Valor.
As of 2020 PG Valor has 1 player called up to the NBA G-League; 14 players who have received overseas contracts; 2 ABA All Stars and 3 players drafted in the ABA Gold elite league. Tryouts represent the first steps in the extensive process of putting together PG Valor’s roster for the up and coming season. Players who are at least 21 years old (under 21 years old requires parental consent); has graduated from high school; and either (i) the player has not attended a college or university in the United States or Canada during the academic year that takes place during all or any part of the Season; or (ii) the player has no remaining intercollegiate basketball eligibility, will participate in a series of skill workouts sessions and live scrimmages.
For more information regarding season six and all other PG Valor news, visit our team’s website at www.pgvalor.com; our social media @pgvalorbball or by contacting us via email at [email protected].
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About the team: PG Valor is an American Basketball Association (ABA) team in Prince George’s County, Maryland. In addition to competing in the ABA from November through March for regular season games and from March through April for playoff and championship games, PG Valor competes in charity games against other professional and local teams. At the end of its first season (2016-2017), PG Valor was ranked No. 2 in its conference. PG Valor was ranked No. 1 in its conference and the 2018 Chesapeake Division Champion in its second season (2017-2018). Fourteen PG Valor players have received contracts to play overseas; one player was called up to the G-League; and one player participated in the 2018 ABA All-Star game. Recently, three players have been selected for the 2018 ABA Gold. In 2019 a PG Valor player was selected to participate in the ABA All star game and PG Valor ended season 3 in the second round of playoffs. Community Partnerships are also available for non profits and other members of the DMV Community. This is in addition to sponsorship opportunities for local, national and international businesses. PG Valor is minority and woman owned by LaDonna M. Smith, from Fairmount Heights, Maryland.
About the ABA: The ABA is a men’s professional basketball league. The original ABA was formed in 1967. In 1976, four ABA franchises merged into the NBA: the Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, New Jersey Nets and San Antonio Spurs. The lead attorney for the ABA during the merger was Dick Tinkham, who was a co-founder of the Indiana Pacers and the commissioner of the ABA. Opposing counsel was David Stern, who later became the commissioner of the NBA. In partnership with the NBA, the ABA was reformed in 2000.
Today, the ABA has over 100 teams and 1,500 players who are former NBA players, Division 1 and 2 NCAA players, McDonald’s All-Americans, and international players. The ABA has introduced the ABA Gold, a new league that showcases the ABA’s best players.
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