Tampa Bay Rain Visits Bryant Elementary Students

A new sports movement is brewing in the Tampa Bay area.

The Tampa Bay Rain, an American Basketball Association team, is the newest professional sports team in the city.

While the team is still recruiting players, team officials spent Friday building momentum in the community. Rain Chairman Stephen Davis and team coach Tree Rollins shook hands and took pictures with  students.

The team sponsored the school's Free-Stuff Friday event and treated students to ice-pops.

The American Basketball Association has about 80 teams nationwide. The Rain is one of the most recent to be added to the league.

"We felt like basketball is like the easiest game to play, and yet we don't have enough of it going on in this area," Davis said about his decision to start the team in Tampa.

Davis, a Westchase resident, hopes the team will fill that sports void.

Davis was also encouraged by a youth organization he help found. Team Rain, a nonprofit program, focuses on the athletic, academic and social development of area youths.

The Tampa Bay Rain will play their first game in October. The team's home court will be at the Florida State Fairground's Expo Hall.

The team will have a final roster of 15, with 12 paid positions.

Want to try out?

Tampa Bay Rain Two Day Tryout

Friday, June 1:

• Registration, 5 p.m.
• Tryout, 6-9 p.m.

Saturday, June 2: 

• Tryout, 1-6 p.m.

Tryouts wil be held at the MAC Center, 18105 Gunn Highway in Tampa, and cost $125 in advance or $200 at the door. The deadline for advance entry is Monday, May 28. For information, call 813-418-7219.