Gwinnett Daily Post

Photo by Heather Meadows

David Akin spent this past basketball season coaching at Milton High, where he is an assistant to David Boyd, his old high school coach.

But the Berkmar grad is a head coach in the summertime, guiding the Gwinnett Majic, an ultra-successful World Basketball Association franchise that plays its home games at the Bogan Park Gym. The Majic won the past two WBA championships, returning the core of its roster this season along with some key newcomers to pursue a three-peat.

That pursuit begins today with a 7 p.m. opener at home against the Columbus Stars.

BASKETBALL

What: Gwinnett Majic vs. Columbus Stars, season opener

When: Today, 7 p.m.

Where: Bogan Park Gym, Buford

More information: www.gwinnettmajic.com

Noteworthy: Gwinnett is the two-time defending WBA champion and features Berkmar grad David Akin as head coach. His roster includes Berkmar grad Adrien Borders, Norcross grad Reggie Anderson II, Dacula grad B.J. Puckett and Shiloh grad Jon Mandeldove.

Gwinnett Majic

2011 schedule (all games at 7 p.m.)

Date Opponent Location

Friday Columbus Stars Bogan Park

Saturday Marietta Storm Marietta

June 3 Conyers Court Kings Bogan Park

June 4 Rome Gladiators Rome

June 10 Columbus Stars Columbus

June 11 Conyers Court Kings Conyers

June 17 Jacksonville Blue Waves Bogan Park

June 18 Tennessee Tornadoes Fayetteville, Tenn.

June 24 Rome Gladiators Bogan Park

June 25 Easley Heat Easley, S.C.

July 1 Tennessee Tornadoes Bogan Park

July 2 Jacksonville Blue Wave Jacksonville, Fla.

“Our team this season is as talented a team as we have ever had,” Akin said. “We have guys on the team that have played in the ACC, SEC, Big East, in the NCAA Tournament. As the defending two-time WBA champions, it will be imperative that we play at our highest level every night. The pressure to win every night should bring out the best in our players and coaching staff.

“Our team goal is to simply improve on a weekly basis, however our expectations are to win another title and become the top minor league basketball franchise in the Southeast.”

The talent Akin spoke of includes Dacula grad B.J. Puckett, who has been one of the WBA’s top players the past few seasons. He spends the bulk of his year playing international basketball professionally, but is home for the summer thanks to the Majic.

He joins three other Gwinnett products on the roster — Berkmar grad Adrien Borders, Norcross grad Reggie Anderson II and 7-foot Shiloh grad Jon Mandeldove, one of the team’s newcomers. Mandeldove, who played for Connecticut, joins returning players Albert Jackson of Georgia and Puckett to give Gwinnett a strong frontcourt.

Georgia Tech’s Maurice Miller and Lance Storrs also are on the Majic roster, as is Georgia State’s Marcus Brown.

The team plays a 12-game regular season, with seven of those at Bogan Park.

“We have enjoyed playing in Gwinnett the past two years and our fan base continues to grow and so does the excitement at each game,” Akin said. “Last season we had nearly 500 people at the championship game.”

The Gwinnett Majic’s summer slate also includes a busy run of basketball camps at Bogan Park and Lenora Park. For more information, visit www.gwinnettmajic.com.

2011 Gwinnett Majic Roster

Name Position Height College

Reggie Anderson II F 6-6 Carver Bible

Adrien Borders G 6-2 Wofford

David Brown G 6-3 Clark Atlanta

Marcus Brown F 6-7 Georgia State

Frank Davis G 6-3 Tennessee Tech

Andrew Dikas F 6-5 Brewton-Parker

Junard Hartley G 6-3 Campbell

Albert Jackson C 7-0 Georgia

E.J. Kusnyer G 6-4 Mercer

Jon Mandeldove C 7-0 Connecticut

Maurice Miller G 6-2 Georgia Tech

B.J. Puckett F 6-9 Clayton State

Javon Randolph G 6-0 Savannah State

Michael Sloan F 6-6 Clayton State

Lance Storrs F 6-5 Georgia Tech

Head coach: David Akin