MADISON- Season number two is just around the corner for the North Alabama War Dawgs and already the squad feels any team set to face the War Dawgs will be in for an intense 60 minutes of “grown man basketball.”

“This year we have unfinished business to take care of as we didn’t get a chance to show just how good our team really was because COVID-19 precautions required us to cancel the end of the season,” said Tim Jones, team owner.

The War Dawgs are members of the American Basketball Association (ABA) the largest professional sports league in the U.S. with 155 teams across the states with squads also in Mexico, Canada, Australia and Japan. The War Dawgs in their inaugural season a year ago posted a 12-7 record finishing No. 25 nationally and were bound for the regional playoffs and possible spot in the finals held in New York City when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and the season came to a close.

Local players are expected to fill the roster with several key players returning from last season’s action including former Bob Jones standout Jeffery Moss, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard who went on to be drafted to the ABAMX, which is an exhibition tournament held in Mexico. Moss was part of the Bob Jones 2010 squad that stormed to the Class 6A AHSAA State Championship. He went onto a star career at Murray State where he was named OVC First Team selection.

The tryouts for the War Dawgs were held with about 25 players in attendance going through several team drills and scrimmage games under the direction of head coach Adrian Caesar and assistant coach Rueben Cable. Jones said he felt the level of talent displayed during tryouts was exceptional.

“We were a great team for our premier season, but this time we are even more ready to prove that a new team to the league does not mean we can’t compete on a national level,” said Jones. “We are ready to get back on the court.”

Jones indicated the team will be heavily involved in the local communities including a Kids Club and Little Diva Camp along with basketball camps for youngsters ages 7-15. Details on all events surrounding the War Dawgs will be available on the team’s Facebook page. The team is also looking for local talent to perform the National Anthem at each home game.

The War Dawgs are still in current negotiations with a few local venues to host home games. The new season will be held November through March.