WAKE FOREST, N.C. — Wake Forest is getting its first semi-professional men’s basketball team.
The North Carolina Capitals inaugural season will begin in March. Leading the team is head coach DeMarcus Oliver. Seventeen years ago, Oliver started out as an assistant coach with a recreational league and has now worked his way up the ladder becoming not only head coach, but also the team’s owner.
“From the recreation leagues, middle school, high school, junior college, professionally, and now, as an owner of a team, it all kind of comes together, you know, not just for my good, but for the good of the community and for the good of all these guys that are here with us today,” says Oliver.
On December 5, the team held a training camp giving players a final chance to make it on the roster.
“I believe that there's always diamonds in the rough. So to the guy that didn't go to the most prestigious college, to the guy that may not have had an opportunity to go to college, but had a skill and had a heart, had a passionate and a desire to still make it. This platform is for all of those components of young men who want that opportunity,” Oliver says.
One of the men getting a second chance at their dream is TyQuon Reid.
“It means a lot. Honestly, I felt like my career was over. The hype went down. I was out of school. I was struggling finding places, but then Coach Oliver comes again saving me, so I'm so grateful for the opportunity,” Reid says.
The North Carolina Capitals also plans to feature local talent during their half-time shows to provide others a chance to showcase their skills.
“It’s sports and entertainment, so we're excited, and everybody's really going to see that we’re taking it to another level with this, as we should. It's an opportunity for everybody to get involved, and everybody to shine,” says Sandra Dubose the Director of Community Relations.
The official North Carolina Capitals 2021 Roster:
1. TyQuon Reid (6’-1” Guard)
Raleigh, NC
Vance Granville Community College
Bluefield College
2. Dyron Jones (6’-1” Guard)
Durham, NC
Bluefield College
3. Daniel Hill (5’-9” Guard)
Jackson, Tennessee
Lane College
4. Chris Pernell (6’-1” Guard)
Raleigh, NC
Vance Granville Community College
Methodist University
5. Wyatt McBee (6’-2” Guard)
Virginia Beach, VA
Garret College
6. Omar Jabbi (6’-1” Guard)
Bronx, NY / Raleigh, NC
No College
7. Kalin Jackson (6’-1” Guard)
Henderson, NC
Vance Granville Community College
8. Ryan Suitt (6’-3” Forward)
Durham, NC
Vance Granville Community College
9. Raheem Williams (6’-4” Forward)
Franklinton, NC / Charlotte, NC
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
10. Arthur Harris (6’-5” Forward)
Knightdale, NC
No College
11. Jordan Jones (6’-8” Forward)
Durham, NC
Claflin University
12. Josh Jones (6’-7” Forward)
Durham, NC
Wake Tech Community College
13. Donal Gooch (6’-8” Forward)
Wendell, NC
Vance Granville Community College
Bluefield College
14. NiQuon Cousins (6’-4” Forward)
Raleigh, NC / Bluefield, WV
Bluefield College
15. Tyler Shelton (6’-5” Forward)
Clifton Forge, VA
Lansing Community College
Lansing Sting Nevada Semi Pro Team
16. Kaden Lebray (6’-6” Forward)
Wilson, NC
University of Mount Olive
NBL Canada, TBL
Red Shirts Reserves
1. Kyle Anaya (6’-1” Guard)
Greenville, NC
Simpson University
2. Daniel Kizer (5’-11” Guard)
Raleigh, NC
No College
3. Marcus McClean (6’-0” Guard)
Raleigh, NC
North Carolina Central University