East Coast Basketball League (ECBL) is a men's professional basketball

minor league Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nor ...

in the United States that began play in March 2015. The league is centered in the Carolinas with teams also in Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

History

Five teams (Carolina Gladiators,

Fayetteville Crossover The Fayetteville Crossover are a semi-professional basketball team based in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Home games are played at the John D. Fuller, Sr. Recrerational/Athletic Complex. History The team began play in 2011 as a member of the Cont ...

PrimeTime Players The PrimeTime Players are a minor league professional basketball team based in Fort Mill, South Carolina. The PrimeTime Players have played independently in the Carolinas since 1991, competing in tournaments and pro-am leagues. The team has ...

, Queen City Express, South Carolina All-Stars) in the ECBL previously played in the

Tobacco Road Basketball League The Tobacco Road Basketball League (TRBL) was a professional men's basketball minor league in the United States that began play in April 2012. The league is centered in the Carolinas. In November 2014 the TRBL entered into an affiliation agreem ...

. The teams broke away from the TRBL due to changes in the league format. On August 16, 2014, the ECBL announced the addition of the Fort Gordon Eagles. A military team, the Eagles also compete in the Southeast Military Athletics Conference
SEMAC
from October to February. Former

American Basketball Association The American Basketball Association (ABA) was a major men's professional basketball league from 1967 to 1976. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger, American Basketball Association–National Basketball Association merger in 1976, ...

team

Savannah Storm The C-Port Trojans are a member of the East Coast Basketball League (ECBL). The Trojans previously competed in the American Basketball Association during 2010–11 season. The Trojans are located in Savannah, Georgia Savannah ( ) is the ol ...

were admitted to enter the ECBL for Season 1. They would be joined by Columbia Crusaders, Gastonia Crowns and High Point Hawks to round out the 10-team circuit. The first-ever ECBL Championship was won by

, 130-113 over the

. The final was played on June 27, 2015 in

Fort Mill, South Carolina Fort Mill, also known as Fort Mill Township, is a town in York County, South Carolina, United States. It is a suburb of Charlotte, North Carolina. As of 2020 United States census, 2020 census, 24,521 people live inside the town's corporate limits. ...

and streamed live online. Former Catawba College forward Donald Rutherford scored 34 points while grabbing 16 rebounds for PrimeTime and was named game MVP. Four new teams joined the ECBL for the 2016 season: expansion teams Carolina MPact, Petersburg Revolution, RDU Raptors and Winston-Salem Certified (formerly of the TRBL). Expansion into Charlotte was announced on April 8, 2016, with the addition of Charlotte Golden Bulls. At the August 2016 AGM, league board of directors unanimously accepted the expansion application of the Florence Wildcats for 2017. Two teams also announced name changes: Peterburg Cavaliers (formerly Revolution) and North Carolina Coyotes (formerly RDU Raptors). League owners approved the expansion application of the Carolina Thunder for 2017. The Thunder began as a travel team playing a league schedule on the road. A second travel team, Hickory Hoyas, were added to the schedule before the season opener. Prior to the 2021 season the league added seven teams to form the new Mid-Atlantic Conference. Teams included Fredericksburg Grizzlies, Hub City Hogs, Philly Cannons, Philly Raiders, Plaistow Shockers, Red Rose Thunder and Western Mass Zombies.

Teams

Former teams

* Augusta Eagles (2015–20) * Carolina Gladiators (2015) *Carolina Kings (2017) * Carolina MPact (2016) * Carolina Showtime (2017; 2020) * Charlotte Golden Bulls (2017) * C-Port Trojans (2015–18) *East Carolina Cardinals (2018–19) *

(2015–16) *Fredericksburg Grizzlies (2021) * Gastonia Crowns (2015) *Georgia Fire (2020–21) * Hickory Hoyas (2017–19; 2020–present) - Suspended from league in 2019 after four games. Returned in 2020. * High Point Hawks (2015–17) *Philly Cannons (2021) * Queen City Express (2015) *South Carolina All Stars (2015–18) *Winston-Salem Certified (2016–18)

Champions

ECBL Super Cup

Winners of the ECBL Mid-Atlantic and ECBL South.

References

External links

Official league website
{{Prohoops Basketball leagues in the United States Professional sports leagues in the United States 2014 establishments in the United States Sports leagues established in 2014