The Ohio Kings debut as Cincinnati’s ABA team on Dec ember 7. Photo provided by The Ohio Kings
By Regina Carswell Russo
Regina@RRightNowComm.com
The Kings are coming! Three wise men saw a void in local sports and family entertainment, and, like all good entrepreneurs, put a plan in action to answer that need. On December 7, their efforts will have paid off when the community comes together to cheer on the American Basketball Association’s (ABA) newest expansion team, the Ohio Kings, at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, 3520 Central Parkway.
The expansion team could not be in better hands according to ABA co-founder Joe Newman, “We have a very solid experienced group involved with the Ohio Kings.”
The Ohio Kings is owned and operated by the three Ks: Kevin L. Aldridge, Kevin S. Aldridge and Kelven Moss.
Kevin L. Aldridge is CEO and co-founder of Kingdom Vision Outreach and is former head varsity girls’ basketball coach at Middletown High School. He is assistant varsity girls’ basketball coach at Hamilton High School. A graduate of Middletown High School in Middletown, he has a bachelor of arts degree in sports ministry from Campbellsville University in Kentucky.
Kevin S. Aldridge, a Middletown native and veteran journalist with more than 20 years experience in the news media, is the opinion page editor of The Cincinnati Enquirer and Cincinnati.com. He also is a senior pastor of Grace AME Church in Bellefontaine, Ohio, adjunct professor of journalism at Miami University’s Oxford regional campuses and vice president of Kingdom Vision Outreach. He and Kevin L. are cousins.
Kelven J. Moss is the head men’s basketball coach at Fenwick High School in Middletown, Ohio. Before arriving at Fenwick, Moss compiled a 64-27 record in three seasons at Miami University Hamilton, winning three Ohio Regional Campus Conference regular-season titles and two conference tournament crowns. He has a master degree in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University in Irvine, California, and is vice president and director of sports for Kingdom Vision Outreach.
The ABA is the largest basketball league in the world with over 100 teams spanning countries like Canada and Mexico. The Ohio Kings will play in North Central region with teams from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania Michigan and Maryland. Home games will be played at Cincinnati State.
Basketball fans will see a familiar face next to the players, as the Kings will be coached by Lannis Timmons, a former Cincinnati Public Schools board member and basketball coach.
You can expect the best of the best in hoop action, during the Ohio Kings inaugural game, December 7, at 4:30 p.m. at Cincinnati State.
The team plans to make each of its home game a community event, in part because of its partnership with the Cincinnati Public Schools District, according to owner Kevin S. Aldridge, “We are excited about our partnership with the district and look forward to highlighting and showcasing student-athletes and different schools at our home games.”
For more information on events surrounding the inaugural game, tickets and merchandise go to
theohiokings.com. General admission is $10, VIP is $20, and kids 5 to 12 get in for $5. Free haircuts for kids are offered before and during the games.
The schedule follows. *Denotes home game
* Saturday, 12/7, vs Akron Aviators. 4:30 p.m.
* Saturday, 12/14, vs South Bend Monarchs, 5 p.m.
* Saturday, 12/21, vs Michigan Lake Hawks, 5 p.m.
* Saturday 1/4, vs Team NetWork (DET), 8 p.m.
Saturday, 1/11, at Steel City Yellow Jackets (PIT), 7 p.m.
* Saturday, 1/18, vs Indiana Lyons, 6 p.m.
* Saturday, 1/25, vs Cleveland Blazers, 7 p.m.
* Saturday, 2/1, vs Steel City Yellow Jackets (PIT), 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, 2/8, at South Bend Monarchs, 5 p.m.
Sunday, 2/9, at W. Michigan Lake Hawks, 5 p.m.
Saturday, 2/15, at Indiana Lyons (Danville) 5 p.m.
* Sunday, 2/22, vs New Chicago Fury, 5 p.m.
* Sunday, 2/23, vs Maryland Bulldogz, 1 p.m.
* Saturday, 2/29, vs Buckeye Show, 5 p.m.
Saturday, 3/7, at Akron Aviators, 7 p.m.
Sunday, 3/8, at Cleveland Blazers, 12:30 p.m.
