Atlanta Krunk Wolverines
Encyclopedia
The Augusta Groove was a team in the Premier Basketball League
that previously played in the Continental Basketball Association
and the modern American Basketball Association
. Formerly, the team was known as the Charlotte Krunk in the ABA, where they played at Charlotte, North Carolina
's Cricket Arena
, and the Atlanta Krunk of the CBA.
Team owner Duane "Spyder-D
" Hughes announced the suspension of operations in an emotional letter on the team's website, thanking the city of Charlotte and the businesses that helped his team. In the letter he announced plans for a celebrity basketball game, and youth concert to be held at Cricket Arena.
as the Atlanta Krunk. On the 21st, they announced that they would by playing at the John H. Lewis Gymnasium
at Morris Brown College
. Finally, on the 24th, they announced they would be called the Atlanta Krunk Wolverines in honor of Morris Brown's athletics program, now discontinued.
Prior to the 2007-2008 season, the team changed their name back to Atlanta Krunk.http://www.atlantakrunk.com/ The Krunk also added a majority owner, Freedom Williams
.
Next, the owners announced their new head coach, former Georgia Tech and NBA standout Kenny Anderson
. As a general manager, the owners and coach selected Vincent Smith, a basketball trainer who is also the brother of TNT
basketball analyst Kenny Smith
.
The team then revealed that they had signed Grayson Boucher
, known as "The Professor" during his days on the And 1 streetball tour. Further, the team added the brother of Stephon Marbury
, known as "Zeck" Marbury according to the team's website and the CBA, or "Zech" or "Zach" Marbury from his NBA days.
In another announcement prior to the 2006-2007 season, Starbury
, Stephon Marbury's clothing company, was revealed as the designer of the Krunk uniforms.
Some footage has also been shot for a reality show about the Atlanta Krunk, featuring owners Freedom Williams, Duane "Spyder D" Hughes, and other team personnel and players. Plans for the release of the show have not yet been announced.
The season was noted for the lack of payment of players, and an ever-shifting roster after the first month due to financial woes. The Krunk appeared on the road without uniforms, and completed one road trip with just five players.
, and Ricky Brown
in the middle of the '07-'08 season, and looked to relocate elsewhere in Georgia. Leading candidates were Columbus
(where they would play at the Columbus Civic Center
) and Augusta
(where the venue would be the James Brown Arena
). Augusta was chosen and the team was renamed the Augusta Groove. However, the James Brown Arena was ruled out as a home.
On June 5, 2008 the team announced its move to the Premier Basketball League. and on July 10, the Groove announced they would be playing at the Christenberry Fieldhouse
on the Augusta State University
campus. This did not hold, as on November 12, they announced they would play in the gym at Richmond Academy
. The team finished the year with a .500 record amid controversy about player pay and remuneration for hotel stays.
In an interview on 3 November 2009 that Perry conducted with the Augusta Chronicle
, he announced both his affiliation with the Continental Basketball League
and the official end of the Groove.
|colspan="6" align=center bgcolor="#4a008c" | Charlotte Krunk
|-
|2005-06 || 0 || 0 || .000 || ||
|-
|colspan="6" align=center bgcolor="#4a008c" | Atlanta Krunk
|-
|2007-08 || 9 || 41 || .180 || ||
|-
|colspan="6" align=center bgcolor="#4a008c" | Augusta Groove
|-
|2008-09 || 10 || 10 || .500 || ||
|-
!Totals || 19 || 51 || .271 ||
|-
Premier Basketball League
The Premier Basketball League, often abbreviated to the PBL, is a men's professional basketball minor league in the United States that began play in January 2008. The league had ten teams for the 2008 season and thirteen teams for the 2009 season. Nine teams from Canada and the United States...
that previously played in the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
and the modern American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association (21st century)
The American Basketball Association, often abbreviated as ABA, is a semi-professional men's basketball league that was founded in 1999. The current ABA has no affiliation with the original American Basketball Association that merged with the National Basketball Association in 1976...
. Formerly, the team was known as the Charlotte Krunk in the ABA, where they played at Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
's Cricket Arena
Cricket Arena
Bojangles' Coliseum is a 9,605-seat multi-purpose arena, in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is operated by the Charlotte Coliseum Authority, which also oversees the Ovens Auditorium and the Charlotte Convention Center...
, and the Atlanta Krunk of the CBA.
2005-2006: Charlotte
The franchise began operations in 2005, but was forced to suspend operations between December 2005 and January 2006 when other teams in its division shut down.Team owner Duane "Spyder-D
Spyder-D
Duane Hughes, better known by his stage name Spyder D, is a former professional old-school rapper and producer from New York City.- 1980s :...
" Hughes announced the suspension of operations in an emotional letter on the team's website, thanking the city of Charlotte and the businesses that helped his team. In the letter he announced plans for a celebrity basketball game, and youth concert to be held at Cricket Arena.
2006-2008: Atlanta and CBA
On August 7, 2006, the team announced they would be moving to the Continental Basketball AssociationContinental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
as the Atlanta Krunk. On the 21st, they announced that they would by playing at the John H. Lewis Gymnasium
John H. Lewis Gymnasium
The John H. Lewis Gymnasium is a 7,000 seat venue on the campus of Morris Brown College. It is home to the Atlanta Thoroughbreds National Indoor Football League team, and in the fall of 2007 will be home to the Atlanta Krunk Wolverines Continental Basketball Association team....
at Morris Brown College
Morris Brown College
Morris Brown College is a private, coed, liberal arts college located in the Vine City community of Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It is a historically black college affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church...
. Finally, on the 24th, they announced they would be called the Atlanta Krunk Wolverines in honor of Morris Brown's athletics program, now discontinued.
Prior to the 2007-2008 season, the team changed their name back to Atlanta Krunk.http://www.atlantakrunk.com/ The Krunk also added a majority owner, Freedom Williams
Freedom Williams
Frederick Brandon Williams , better known by his stage name Freedom Williams is an American hip hop and dance music performer, who gained fame as the lead vocalist on C+C Music Factory's biggest hits.-Career:...
.
Next, the owners announced their new head coach, former Georgia Tech and NBA standout Kenny Anderson
Kenny Anderson
Kenneth "Kenny" Anderson is a retired American basketball player. After a college career at Georgia Institute of Technology, he played point guard professionally from 1991 to 2006, mostly in the National Basketball Association....
. As a general manager, the owners and coach selected Vincent Smith, a basketball trainer who is also the brother of TNT
Turner Network Television
Turner Network Television is an American cable television channel created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner...
basketball analyst Kenny Smith
Kenny Smith
Kenneth "The Jet" Smith is a retired National Basketball Association player and current TV basketball analyst, primarily for Inside the NBA on TNT.-Early life:...
.
The team then revealed that they had signed Grayson Boucher
Grayson Boucher
Grayson The Professor Boucher is an American Streetball player. He is most known for playing on the highly stylized, international AND1 Mixtape Tour; he has also appeared in several movies...
, known as "The Professor" during his days on the And 1 streetball tour. Further, the team added the brother of Stephon Marbury
Stephon Marbury
Stephon Xavier Marbury is an American professional basketball player.The , point guard was selected out of the Georgia Institute of Technology by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 4th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft, but was traded shortly thereafter to the Minnesota Timberwolves.He was an NBA...
, known as "Zeck" Marbury according to the team's website and the CBA, or "Zech" or "Zach" Marbury from his NBA days.
In another announcement prior to the 2006-2007 season, Starbury
Starbury
Starbury, Inc. is an American brand of sneakers and clothing endorsed by CBA player Stephon Marbury, and was marketed by Steve and Barry's. The line was launched in September 2006, as a pair of $14.98 basketball shoes to compete with higher priced products endorsed by celebrity athletes...
, Stephon Marbury's clothing company, was revealed as the designer of the Krunk uniforms.
Some footage has also been shot for a reality show about the Atlanta Krunk, featuring owners Freedom Williams, Duane "Spyder D" Hughes, and other team personnel and players. Plans for the release of the show have not yet been announced.
2007-2008 Season
The Atlanta Krunk made it through the season with the assistance of new owners. After the John L. Lewis Gymnasium was deemed unsuitable for CBA games, the team finished its schedule on the road. The Krunk ended the year 9-41, including nine forfeit losses.The season was noted for the lack of payment of players, and an ever-shifting roster after the first month due to financial woes. The Krunk appeared on the road without uniforms, and completed one road trip with just five players.
2008-2009
The team was purchased by Gary Perry, Lavon MercerLaVon Mercer
LaVon Mercer , is an American-Israeli retired basketball player. He played in the center position ....
, and Ricky Brown
Ricky Brown
Ricky Brown is an American football linebacker for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was signed by the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
in the middle of the '07-'08 season, and looked to relocate elsewhere in Georgia. Leading candidates were Columbus
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
(where they would play at the Columbus Civic Center
Columbus Civic Center
Columbus Civic Center is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Columbus, Georgia, built in 1996.-History:The arena was built in 1996, along with a Softball Complex, to fully complete South Commons...
) and Augusta
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
(where the venue would be the James Brown Arena
James Brown Arena
The James Brown Arena is a multi-purpose complex, in Augusta, Georgia.It features an 8,500 seat arena, renamed the James Brown Arena, in honor of musician James Brown on August 22, 2006...
). Augusta was chosen and the team was renamed the Augusta Groove. However, the James Brown Arena was ruled out as a home.
On June 5, 2008 the team announced its move to the Premier Basketball League. and on July 10, the Groove announced they would be playing at the Christenberry Fieldhouse
Christenberry Fieldhouse
The George A. Christenberry Fieldhouse is a 2,621 seat facility on the campus of Augusta State University in Augusta, Georgia. A part of their Athletics and Recreation Complex, it is home to the Augusta State Jaguars men's and women's basketball teams as well as the women's volleyball team...
on the Augusta State University
Augusta State University
Augusta State University is a public university located in Augusta, Georgia, United States and is the oldest institution in the state of Georgia ....
campus. This did not hold, as on November 12, they announced they would play in the gym at Richmond Academy
Academy of Richmond County
The Academy of Richmond County is a public high school listed on the National Register of Historic Places located in Augusta, Georgia, USA. Originally known as Richmond County Military Academy, and commonly known as Richmond Academy, it was chartered in 1783...
. The team finished the year with a .500 record amid controversy about player pay and remuneration for hotel stays.
In an interview on 3 November 2009 that Perry conducted with the Augusta Chronicle
Augusta Chronicle
The Augusta Chronicle is the major daily newspaper of Augusta, Georgia and is one of the oldest newspapers in the United States. The paper is known for its coverage of the Masters Tournament, which is played in Augusta. Among locals, the paper is commonly referred to as "The AC"-History:The paper...
, he announced both his affiliation with the Continental Basketball League
Continental Basketball League
The Continental Basketball League is a professional men's basketball minor league in the United States that began play in April of 2010. The league is headquartered in Florida.- History :...
and the official end of the Groove.
Season by Season Records
|-|colspan="6" align=center bgcolor="#4a008c" | Charlotte Krunk
|-
|2005-06 || 0 || 0 || .000 || ||
|-
|colspan="6" align=center bgcolor="#4a008c" | Atlanta Krunk
|-
|2007-08 || 9 || 41 || .180 || ||
|-
|colspan="6" align=center bgcolor="#4a008c" | Augusta Groove
|-
|2008-09 || 10 || 10 || .500 || ||
|-
!Totals || 19 || 51 || .271 ||
|-
External links
- Augusta Groove — official website