Modesto has been selected as the new home city for one of the top American Basketball Association (ABA) teams. The team, to be named the Modesto Super Kats, is relocating from Yuba City California according to team owners Jill Steuber and Spencer Norman. The Super Kats will bring professional basketball to Modesto starting in the 2017-2018 season, which will run from November into April. As the Yuba City Goldminers, the team was ranked as high as 10th out of 110 ABA teams nationally.
Spencer Norman said, “We brought high-quality basketball to Yuba City, proving we could compete at the highest level in the ABA. We’re excited to bring that same high quality of basketball and AAU affiliated activities to the much-larger Modesto market.”
Modesto Mayor Ted Brandvold said, “We are looking forward to welcoming the Super Kats and taking basketball to a new level in Modesto.”
The Super Kats are in discussion with Modesto Junior College to host Super Kats home games. In addition to its ABA membership, the Modesto Super Kats is affiliated with the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). In conjunction with AAU, the Modesto Super Kats will sponsor a youth team, the Modest Junior Kats, as well as an AAU adult league. The Junior Kats are evaluating several venues for their games and AAU activities.
The American Basketball Association includes 110 teams across the United States, and is expanding internationally for the 2017-2018 season. Since its founding in 1999, the ABA has risen to be a primary player development resource for the National Basketball Association. The ABA’s history began in 1967 and includes a merger that expanded the NBA. Early great players from the ABA include Julius Erving and Rick Barry.
Contact: Jill Steuber, Modesto Super Kats