The Chautauqua Hurricane have finalized their roster and are set to begin training camp, starting Monday.

Members of the American Basketball Association, the Hurricane open the season Nov. 28 in the Annual Thanksgiving Classic.

With 10 players on the roster, three are homegrown talent.

Listed at 6-foot-9-inches, Dunkirk’s own Allen Thomas is on the roster, along with 5-11 Westfield graduate Marcus Cuevas. Also making the cut is 6-4 Dunkirk resident Darnell Baldwin.

“Allen Thomas has done a lot of work to get himself into shape for this,” Chautauqua Hurricane coach Jerome Moss said. “I hope his hard work will pay off. We need some big guys in this league. It’s a very physical league. These guys can play and we have to have that inside presence. Darnell is a very athletic kid, who can run all day. Darnell jumps very, very well. With Marcus, we hope to get him up to speed.

“I think it’s important in a situation like this to search out some local talent,” Moss added. “We do have good players in this area. These guys can play and I think they can contribute.”

One of the players Moss is most anxious to get a better look at is Craig Dixon, who played for the Hurricane last year and stands a towering 6-10.

“He is very physical and jumps really well,” Moss continued. “He is hungry for the ball. I’m really excited to coach this young man. He has potential and can do a lot for us.”

See HURRICANES, Page B3

Also of note is power forward Kassim Green who is a Monroe Community College product.

“He is very strong inside,” Moss said. “He has a nice touch from outside. He is a real hard working kind of kid.”

After scouting two tryouts – one in Jamestown and the other in West Seneca – Moss is pleased with his 10-man roster.

“I think the roster is pretty well even,” he said. “We have some decent shooters and some decent inside play. We have a big man. From what I have seen, they are in decent shape. I think we should be competitive.

The Hurricane will practice three days a week between the Salvation Army and the Boys & Girls Club.

With the first practice slated for Monday night, Moss will spend time working on the fundamentals of the game – just like he has in his previous high school coaching stops which include Brocton and Dunkirk.

“That’s the thing, fundamentals of the game, you never get away from those at any level,” Moss said. “You start out with the same fundamental drills. The difference is you are doing it at higher rate. Fundamentals have to be gone over and have to be solid. Everything you do is from fundamental basketball.

“My whole tradition and what we do is we run,” Moss continued about his team’s style of play. “I have done that at every place I have been. You gotta get them ready for that style. We will be under control, but ready to run.”

Following is the full roster:

Allen Thomas Fredonia State

Marcus Cuevas Jamestown CC

Darnell Baldwin Performing Arts, Buffalo

Craig Dixon Erie Hurricane

Glen Connor Mercyhurst

Cohen Thompson CC of Philly

Devlin Anderson Clinton CC

Kassim Green Monroe CC

Jared Dewberry Urbana University

Dominique Higgins Johnson C Smith University