Inside Game: All Eyes On Basketball Super League In Year Two
Following a successful inaugural '24 season, the BSL adds 3 new teams to the mix, appoints a new league commissioner, and braces for a breakout '25 season.
You know season two of the Basketball Super League is drawing near when the 2025 Draft Combine schedule drops.
This October, BSL teams will travel to Windsor, Ontario for the two-day event held on Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20 at the St. Clair College Genesis Experiential Learning and Career Centre, where aspiring and current professionals will have the opportunity to showcase their abilities in hopes of being selected by a BSL team to attend training camp for the upcoming season.
Anything after that is up to the basketball gods and the 9 BSL basketball teams who are eyeing a breakout season in year two of the league by making two selections each in the draft.
More eyes watching. More fans. More expectations. More chances to win on the business side of basketball in Canada and the United States.
BSL has been anything but quiet this long offseason following the news that three new teams have joined the ranks: the Glass City Wranglers, Pontiac Pharaohs, and the Jamestown Jackals. All three bring with them a wealth of basketball experience with outstanding front offices who shined in The Basketball League, while also competing against BSL teams over the last two years as the BSL and TBL took shape together. The Basketball Super League is not only addressing concerns on the court by growing the league from 6 teams to 9 teams (Montreal, London, Windsor, Newfoundland, Sudbury, Kitchener-Waterloo, Glass City, Pontiac, Jamestown) but the structure and vision at the top has also improved as well.
Enter veteran businessman and new Commissioner, Devin Kinsella from Sudbury, who is bravely tasked with growing the league as a whole.
“We are honored to have Devin on staff. His experience in Sales & Marketing will help provide much needed direction in the areas of sponsorship sales & expansion markets,” said David Magley, BSL President.
“His love of basketball and community will help us continue the mission of creating community assets with each organization.”
New Season, New League, Same Focused Approach For Coach Zamora
This year will mark eight years coaching professional basketball for Freddie Zamora, and it just might be his biggest one yet. Not only is he returning as head coach of Glass City, but the chance to be part of the Basketball Super League was a goal Coach Zamora was confident he would reach when news spread around The Basketball League about the formation of a new league in Canada.
“I had to really pray on what I was wanting to do next in my coaching career,” Coach Zamora said in an interview with ATBL.
“ I’ve been happy doing what I do but after speaking with my wife on what would make sense, we both agreed this would be an interesting opportunity. Right now it means a lot to stay near home and to be able to return to the Wranglers. It’s special because this organization is going on year five while making a jump to the BSL. I love a challenge and when I got the phone call I was ready to get to work.”
Proving to be one of the young rising coaches around the game, the 2025 season could be a coming out party for Zamora and the Wranglers. His teams always play tough. They get after it on both ends of the court. They are extremely well prepared. And the rest of the BSL should sit up and take notice now of that team from Toledo.
Stay tuned for the full feature interview coming with Head Coach Freddie Zamora.
Kayla Crosby Remains Confident With Jamestown Jackals Joining BSL
It’s easy to root for Kayla Crosby.
Year after year, she’s been a steady presence and a guiding light for basketball and the Jamestown Jackals as their team market owner. Her Q&A and profile detailing her remarkable journey through the game is still one of the most read stories featured on Around The Basketball League. Chalk that up to Kayla’s genuine likeability, combined with a caring heart for the community who is absolutely die-hard about their Jackals. That’s what makes this big move from the TBL to the BSL so touching. In a way, it is the community of Jamestown who comes away the real winners.
“From the beginning of the Jamestown Jackals in 2015, we’ve been committed to creating the best opportunities for our players, and that core mission remains unchanged,” said Crosby in an interview with ATBL.
“Over the last three years, we’ve had the chance to play exhibition games against BSL teams and consistently found the experience rewarding, both in terms of the competition and the professionalism of the organizations. Now felt like the perfect time to make the transition, especially as the BSL continues to expand. We’re excited to take this next step and elevate the Jamestown Jackals in this new league.”
So what were the key reasons why the Jackals are leveling up to The Basketball Super League?
“Several key factors influenced our decision. First, the level of competition in the BSL is consistently strong, which will push our players to develop even further. Secondly, the geographical location of the teams and the reduced travel distances were appealing—many of the Ontario teams are closer than some of the Northeast division teams in TBL. Finally, we considered the season's timing. In recent years, it’s been challenging to maintain strong fan engagement during the warmer months of May and June. By joining the BSL, we align better with the community’s rhythm.”
The full Q&A interview with Kayla Crosby is coming soon to ATBL.
Sound Bites from Around The BSL
“As a league, we have been impressed with the Pharaohs' commitment to growth and believe that Chris Jackson and his organization are primed to not only make the move but prosper in BSL – Evelyn Magley, CEO of the Basketball Super League
“This was always intended to be an international between the U.S. and Canada – so this growth shows that. We’re looking forward to another year, playing some exciting games for our fans, and competing for a championship like we try to do every year. We want to put on a good show for our fans and be as competitive as we can be, and bringing new teams into the league is a big part of that.” – London Lightning General Manager, Mark Frijia
Wendell Maxey is the author of Around The Basketball League and has written about professional basketball and sports for 20 years. He’s been featured on NBA.com, ESPN.com, USA Today, FOX Sports, and SLAM Magazine among other publications and media outlets. You can connect with him on Twitter and LinkedIn or read through his archive on Linktree.