Maryland Nighthawks
Encyclopedia
The Washington GreenHawks were a team of the Atlantic Coast Professional Basketball League
(ACPBL) based in Washington, D.C.
. As the Maryland Nighthawks they were formerly part of the American Basketball Association (ABA) and a founding member of the Premier Basketball League
(PBL), in which they later played as the Maryland GreenHawks. The team began play in the fall of 2004.
The Nighthawks were first located in North Bethesda, Maryland
when they joined the ABA. In their first season they finished in third place in the Blue Division with a 15-9 record. They lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Bellevue Blackhawks
, 133-120.
Entering their second season, owner Tom Doyle relocated the team from Show Place Arena in Prince George's County, Maryland
, to Montgomery County, Maryland
. The Nighthawks played their home games at the Hanley Center for Athletic Excellence of Georgetown Preparatory School
on Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Celebrity players such as the New England Patriots
' Adalius Thomas
and former Washington Bullet Gheorghe Muresan
suited up for the Nighthawks and played as the "11th man", a unique rule in the ABA that allows celebrities to play in a game for an ABA team. The Nighthawks finished the 2005-06 season with a record of 25-10. They also signed 7' 8¾" Chinese player Sun Ming Ming
, the largest player ever to play professional basketball in the US. In the playoffs, they faced the Montreal Matrix
in the first round. They won 145-114, advancing to the second round. There, they faced the SoCal Legends
, to whom they would lose, 121-123.
In the 2006–2007 season, they finished 13-16. This was the first losing record in the franchise's history. This was also the first season in which they missed the playoffs.
.
For the 2008 season, the Nighthawks signed Tamir Goodman
with former player Lawrence Moten
now the new head coach. Their first season in the PBL would be the worst in their franchise's history as they posted a 6-14 record. As there were only ten teams in the league, they made the playoffs against the 11-9 Wilmington Sea Dawgs
. They defeated Wilmington 125-112. In the second round, they went on to face off against the Rochester Razorsharks
, who easily defeated the Nighthawks 123-102, thus ending their season.
as the official "Travel Team" of the PBL in China and the Far East. Since the schedule of international play was set to occur concurrently with the PBL regular season, the Nighthawks did not play any regular season games in the United States
.
.
In August, 2010, the ACPBL announced the GreenHawks had joined their league and moved to Washington, changing their name to the Washington GreenHawks. However just two games into the ACPBL season, the GreenHawks announced they were ceasing operations.
Atlantic Coast Professional Basketball League
The Atlantic Coast Professional Basketball League is a professional men's basketball league set to begin play in late 2010. The league initially was made up of two teams formerly in the Premier Basketball League, three formerly of the Eastern Basketball Alliance, and three expansion teams...
(ACPBL) based in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. As the Maryland Nighthawks they were formerly part of the American Basketball Association (ABA) and a founding member of the Premier Basketball League
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...
(PBL), in which they later played as the Maryland GreenHawks. The team began play in the fall of 2004.
2004–2007: Nighthawk ABA Years
North Bethesda, Maryland
North Bethesda is a census-designated place and an unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It borders the city of Rockville, and is closely associated with the city.-Geography:...
when they joined the ABA. In their first season they finished in third place in the Blue Division with a 15-9 record. They lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Bellevue Blackhawks
Bellevue Blackhawks
The Bellevue Blackhawks were a professional basketball team affiliated with the American Basketball Association and owned by former attorney and KONG_TV President and General Manager Michael Tuckman. The team was based in the Seattle suburb of Bellevue, WA...
, 133-120.
Entering their second season, owner Tom Doyle relocated the team from Show Place Arena in Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
, to Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
. The Nighthawks played their home games at the Hanley Center for Athletic Excellence of Georgetown Preparatory School
Georgetown Preparatory School
Georgetown Preparatory School is an American Jesuit college preparatory school for grades 9 through 12. It is the oldest all boys school in the United States, and the only Jesuit boarding school in the country...
on Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Celebrity players such as the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
' Adalius Thomas
Adalius Thomas
Adalius Donquail Thomas is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern Mississippi.-Early years:...
and former Washington Bullet Gheorghe Muresan
Gheorghe Muresan
Gheorghe Dumitru Mureşan, , also known as Ghiţă or George, is a retired Romanian professional basketball player. At 7 ft 7 in , he is one of the tallest players in NBA history, along with Sudanese player Manute Bol, who was also 7 ft 7 in. Both Mureşan's parents are of average size, and,...
suited up for the Nighthawks and played as the "11th man", a unique rule in the ABA that allows celebrities to play in a game for an ABA team. The Nighthawks finished the 2005-06 season with a record of 25-10. They also signed 7' 8¾" Chinese player Sun Ming Ming
Sun Ming Ming
Sun Mingming is a Chinese basketball player. He is one of the tallest players to ever play professional basketball, standing 7 ft 9 in and weighing 370 lb . Ming wears size 20 sneakers. He also makes occasional appearances as an actor.-Early life:He was born in a small town near in...
, the largest player ever to play professional basketball in the US. In the playoffs, they faced the Montreal Matrix
Montreal Matrix
The Montreal Matrix were an American Basketball Association team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The team's first season was in 2005–06 and their home court was the Centre Pierre Charbonneau. The team was known as the Montreal Royal during the 2007–08 season, before returning to its original...
in the first round. They won 145-114, advancing to the second round. There, they faced the SoCal Legends
SoCal Legends
The Southern California Legends, known commonly as the SoCal Legends, were a team in the Continental Basketball Association.The Legends are owned and coached by former NBA player Gary Grant. They played their home games at Azusa Pacific University's Felix Events Center...
, to whom they would lose, 121-123.
In the 2006–2007 season, they finished 13-16. This was the first losing record in the franchise's history. This was also the first season in which they missed the playoffs.
2008–2009: Nighthawk PBL years
In late 2007, the Maryland Nighthawks left the ABA. They would then move on to become one of the charter franchises of the newly formed PBLPremier 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...
.
2008
Tamir Goodman
Tamir Goodman , dubbed by Sports Illustrated magazine as the "Jewish Jordan", is a retired Orthodox Jewish basketball player.-Biography:...
with former player Lawrence Moten
Lawrence Moten
Lawrence Edward Moten is a retired American professional basketball player.Moten attended Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, D.C. and the New Hampton School in New Hampton, New Hampshire before playing his college ball at Syracuse University...
now the new head coach. Their first season in the PBL would be the worst in their franchise's history as they posted a 6-14 record. As there were only ten teams in the league, they made the playoffs against the 11-9 Wilmington Sea Dawgs
Wilmington Sea Dawgs
The Wilmington Sea Dawgs are a team of the Tobacco Road Basketball League in Wilmington, North Carolina. The Sea Dawgs began play in 2006 as a member of the American Basketball Association and later played as a founding member of the Premier Basketball League and a founding member of the...
. They defeated Wilmington 125-112. In the second round, they went on to face off against the Rochester Razorsharks
Rochester Razorsharks
The Rochester Razorsharks are a professional basketball team based in Rochester, New York. They are members of the Premier Basketball League and play their home games at the Blue Cross Arena in downtown Rochester. The Razorsharks were founded in 2005 as a member of the American Basketball...
, who easily defeated the Nighthawks 123-102, thus ending their season.
2009
On October 10, 2008, the team announced that they would be representing the PBLPremier 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...
as the official "Travel Team" of the PBL in China and the Far East. Since the schedule of international play was set to occur concurrently with the PBL regular season, the Nighthawks did not play any regular season games in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
2010–Present: GreenHawk years
On October 26, 2009, the team launched a new website revealing a new team name and location. The team claimed to be the first green professional sports team, changed their name to the Maryland GreenHawks, and moved to Rockville, MarylandRockville, Maryland
Rockville is the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a major incorporated city in the central part of Montgomery County and forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The 2010 U.S...
.
In August, 2010, the ACPBL announced the GreenHawks had joined their league and moved to Washington, changing their name to the Washington GreenHawks. However just two games into the ACPBL season, the GreenHawks announced they were ceasing operations.