It was a league adored by underdog fans who supported their favorite underdog players as they sweated and fought for every ounce of recognition until they could not be ignored any longer.

With its patented red, white and blue basketball and flashy style of play, the ABA was the wild child of the basketball family, the one who refused to tuck in its shirt or where a tie.

Thanks to players like Dr. J and George “The Ice Man” Gervin, the ABA reached its height of popularity in the ‘70s before its signature franchises ą the New York Nets, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs ą were absorbed by the NBA in 1976.

Looking to recapture that excitement, the ABA has been pushing to build on its legacy by spawning several teams in smaller markets using grassroots methods. Thanks to Tyrone Wilson, Washington will now have to invest in some fertilizer.

Wilson, who graduated Washington High in 1988, has purchased the rights to an ABA franchise and created the East Carolina Trojans with the goal of giving talented basketball players another avenue to pursue their dreams, while he lives out his.

“We want to give a lot of people who don’t have the resources to go to the NBA or go to college an opportunity to play at the next level,” Wilson said. “And also give the town of Washington a different atmosphere.”

The Trojans will be part of an ever-expanding 48-team ABA league whose modern record on its website, ABALive.com, date back to 2001.

The Trojans are targeted to play their inaugural season in December. They will play a 30-game regular season slate with half of the games being played at home with ticket prices expected to range from $15 – $20. Those home games will be divvied up between gyms in Greenville, Washington and Kinston. Wilson, who played basketball for legendary Pam Pack coach Dave Smith in his senior year, said he would love for all of those home games to be played in Washington but due to economic factors that is just not possible at this time.

“Our home base has to be in Greenville because of the sponsorship that’s up there. There are a lot of companies that can help our revenue,” Wilson said. “I’m looking to have about 10 (games) in Greenville, about two in Kinston and maybe three in Washington … I would love to (have a majority of the games in Washington) but this is a business. The, what you would call the revenue in sponsorship, is not as strong in Washington as it is in Greenville.”

Wilson, who owns Wilson Cleaning which is a mobile car wash company based in Washington, also owned an adult amateur basketball team previous to purchasing the Trojans. When some of his players played against the ABA’s Virginia Knights, Wilson was encouraged to join the league.

“Me and my good friend Tony Boston, who played on the Pam Pack state championship team with Dominique Wilkins, we both own traveling teams,” Wilson said. “One day he called me to take a couple of players to play against the ABA Knights team up in Virginia. I had three or four guys who were very good and he needed three or four guys … As I talked to the owner of that team, he was like, “I like how your guys are holding themselves.’ One of our guys was outstanding. He scored 38 points and his name was Calvin Daniels.”

“After the game was over the over (Wilson’s team lost) I talked to the owner and he said why don’t you try to get your team in here because I think you could be successful.”

Wilson took the pass, and in true ABA style, pushed the ball up the court with full speed. The ABA is a league made by and built for innovators, which is perfect for a man like Wilson, who doesn’t just want to stop at one team. Wilson is hoping to create franchises in different markets and is also looking to form a women’s team.

As of now, Wilson’s main focus is the Trojans, whose roster is currently being constructed.

The Trojans will be holding tryouts at the 7th Street Recreation Dept. on May 13 (6 p.m.- 9 p.m.), May 14 (1 p.m.- 5 p.m.) And May 15 (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.). The early tryout fee is $75 and the day of tryout fee is $150. If they make the team, players will be paid anywhere from $150 to $300 per home game. (For more info call 945 – 7667.)

While the roster is still in the works, Wilson said he is planning on Daniels, a former Pam Pack star, being a major part of the Trojans.

“Calvin is the focal point of this whole team,” Wilson said. “He will be the front page. Him and a gentleman from Greenville named Josh Philips.”

Aside from providing area hoops junkies with another form of entertainment, Wilson is hoping that his team can bring an economic boost for the area.

“I am going to bring teams down here to play us, which means they are going to need hotel rooms to stay at and restaurants to eat at,” Wilson said. “With what I have created, I’m brining revenue to this town.”

Wilson is determined to make the Trojans work. He currently has plans for a television show and on Monday worked out a deal to with Joy1320 for a radio show.

“It’s going to be called Trojan Talk and will be on Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.,” Wilson said. “I think we should have that going within a month or two … It’s a good start for us.”

Wilson created Wilson Cleaning from the ground up, and said that what made that business so successful will be the same thing that lifts the Trojans to prosperity.

“You can do anything if you take your time and use a little brain power. It doesn’t take a lot of money, but you have to make sure you have the right people around you,” Wilson said. “I have a nice staff that is in the field of basketball … That’s the reason why I’m going to be successful.”