Carolina Thunder
- The Carolina Thunder was a professional Basketball team owned by PK Velocity Founder, Tony Priscaro and his partner at the time, former Pittsburgh Steelers player, Dwayne Woodruff. The Carolina Thunder played its games in the American Basketball Association (ABA). The ABA was most famously known for producing many future stars of the NBA like Julius Irving (Dr. J). The iconic red, white, and blue basketball is probably what fans remember most when they hear about the ABA.
- Mr Priscaro, was one of the youngest team owners in ABA League history at the age of 33. Joe Newman, ABA CEO, granted Priscaro/Woodruff the territorial rights to a team to the Charlotte, NC, area. The Carolina Thunder was born! The logo was designed to pay tribute to the area’s other big supported sport, NASCAR. In fact, all of the Thunder’s Jersey numbers coincided with the 2002 NASCAR Cup Drivers Car Numbers that made “The Chase” (NASCAR Playoffs).
- The Carolina Thunder started playing their home games at the Cabarrus Arena & Event Center in Concord, NC. At the time, the arena was solely used for agricultural events and had a foot of dirt on the floor. Mr Priscaro convinced arena executives basketball was the future. The county followed suit and purchased a used WNBA floor and hoop systems to bring basketball to Cabarrus County. Even though the Thunder only played basketball at this arena in year one, 20 years later, basketball is still played at this arena to include High School State Championship, AAU Tournaments, and Major College Tournaments.
- In the inaugural year of the Carolina Thunder, there were three significant achievements. Head coach, Brian Rowsom was the Eastern Division “Coach of the Year”. Guard, Brett Harper made the east All Star Squad as a starter and team owner, Tony Priscaro was nominated for “Executive of the Year” of the league.
CAROLINA THUNDER DANCE TEAM
