Nov. 6, 2007

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Since the College Basketball Experience, a 41,500-square foot experiential facility in downtown Kansas City, opened to the public on Oct. 17, college basketball fans have been able to enjoy both the hands-on venues offered as well as the traditions and history of men's college basketball.

A popular part of the history is played out in the Mentor's Circle, where coaches and players have an opportunity to give a message about the mentors who have positively influenced their lives. The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) has played a key role in the development of the Mentor's Circle, joining the prestigious Founder's Club at the CBE, which sits beside the new Sprint Center arena.

"The NBPRA, through its board of directors, the founders and members, have been kind and generous in supporting the development of the CBE," said Jim Haney, executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), which conceived and developed the CBE. "(NBRPA President) Len Elmore has watched with us as this phenomenal facility evolved from a concept to this exciting and vibrant home for men's college basketball."

This is an exciting month for the College Basketball Experience and the Sprint Center, which play host to the second annual induction ceremonies for the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame on Nov. 18. The CBE Classic, a 16-team tournament anchored by the University of Maryland, Michigan State University, the University of Missouri and UCLA, begins this weekend at those four sites and concludes on Nov. 19 and 20 at the Sprint Center.

For more information on the College Basketball Experience, go to www.collegebasketballexperience.com.

About the National Association of Basketball Coaches

Located in Kansas City, Missouri, the NABC was founded in 1927 by Forrest "Phog" Allen, the legendary basketball coach at the University of Kansas. Allen, a student of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, organized coaches into this collective group to serve as Guardians of the Game. The NABC currently claims nearly 5,000 members consisting primarily of university and college men's basketball coaches. All members of the NABC are expected to uphold the core values of being a Guardian of the Game by bringing attention to the positive aspects of the sport of basketball and the role coaches play in the academic and athletic lives of today's student-athletes. The four core values of being a Guardian of the Game are advocacy, leadership, service and education. Additional information about the NABC, its programs and membership, can be found at www.nabc.com.

ABOUT THE NBRPA/LEGENDS OF BASKETBALL

The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) is a non-profit organization comprised of former professional basketball players committed to developing and utilizing their community stature to support and participate in socially responsible global initiatives that focus on, but not limited to, education, health and children's causes. Beyond providing scholarship and financial aid to members in need, the NBRPA serves its membership through a variety of post-retirement objectives, including advocacy on pension issues, support in career transition and participation in community service. Founded in 1992 by Legends Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing, Archie Clark, Dave Cowens and Oscar Robertson, the Association works in direct partnerships with the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. The NBRPA Board of Directors includes Legends Rick Barry; Junior Bridgeman; Emmette Bryant; Mark Eaton; Len Elmore; Tom Hoover; Maurice Lucas; Earl Monroe; Jeff Mullins; Tom "Satch" Sanders; Danny Schayes and Buck Williams. More information is available at www.legendsofbasketball.com.