The Central Iowa Hybrids, Iowa Wind Turbines, and Des Moines Hydrogen have joined the Iowa Basketball Exposure League for the late spring 2010 season. Each team will play home games at Des Moines Christian School in Urbandale, Iowa. Regular season games tipoff late May and will be played Saturday evenings. The mission of the IBEL is to develop talent with ties to the state of Iowa and promote physical fitness in the community. Central Iowa has a rich history of high school, college, and professional basketball.
Drake University, Iowa State University, University of Iowa, and University of Northern Iowa all have excellent basketball programs. Indian Hills Junior College in Ottumwa has one of the best JUCO programs in the nation. Several athletes from those institutions of higher education have continued their careers in the NBA, NBDL, and overseas. The Des Moines metropolitan area is home to Drake University, Grand View University, and Simpson College. IBEL sanctioned tryouts are scheduled for Saturday, November 28, 2009 in Des Moines, Iowa. Tryout costs are $30 in advance and forms are available at . All IBEL games will be videotaped and made available online for agents, scouts, general managers, and fans.
Players, coaches, and game day staff will be paid. However, the primary reason to join the IBEL is for exposure. IBEL games are held on weekends and practices at night so players and staff can continue with their career or education. The IBEL’s mission is to develop local talent for the NBDL and overseas. The IBEL in coordination with International Consultant Mr. Joe Wright plan to assemble a traveling team to compete against Mexico’s LNBP. The goal for IBEL and MBEL players is to be signed by an LNBP team for the winter season. The IBEL also plans to send top talent to LNBP tryout camps after the season.
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico (U.S.A. territory), Uruguay, and Venezuela have professional basketball leagues. Additionally, the IBEL is a tool that international players can use to land a D-League contract in their quest to make the NBA. The IBEL plans to help players succeed at the EuroBasket Summer League, NBDL tryouts, PBL National Tryout Combine, ABA tryouts, and tryouts for overseas clubs. Mexico’s professional league (LNBP) offers the opportunity for top IBEL players to participate in LNBP preseason games which can lead to a contract. Import rookie salaries start at $4500 a month and seasoned veterans might expect to earn $10,000-$12,000 USD per month.