February 4, 2015

ST. LOUIS – A former NBA player and two-time minor league coach of the year has been elevated in his role in the Midwest Professional Basketball Association front office.

                    A.J. Guyton, who had been a Consulting Director for the MPBA since its inception last summer, now takes on the role of Director of Player Development and will also serve as a Special Assistant to Commissioner C. Edward “Ed” Schumer, effective immediately.

                    “A.J.'s success at every level of the game brings the highest level of credibility possible to the MPBA,” said Schumer.   “Not only will his experience as a player and a coach offer the highest level of expertise for the league, but our coaches and players will have the opportunity to learn from his experiences as they continue to develop and strive to reach their personal goals,” Schumer said.

                    Guyton, a native of Peoria, Illinois, led the Bloomington Flex to championships in 2012 and 2013, earning Coach of the Year honors after both seasons, and a perfect 18-0 record in 2014.  His three-year record as a professional coach is 51-5.

                    Guyton was a consensus All-American under Bob Knight at Indiana University before being drafted in the second round by the Chicago Bulls in 2000.  After spending two years in Chicago and one with the Golden State Warriors, Guyton enjoyed a nine-year professional career in Europe and the Middle East.

                    “When AJ decided not to coach in 2015 I approached him about what role he would like to assume in the development of our league,” Schumer added. “His passion for the integrity of the game is second to none.   His ideas about player development, summer camps and combines, and standards for the league will help us achieve all of the goals we have set for the future.”

                    “Further, his contacts and relationships at all levels both here and abroad will help us establish the MPBA as the leader in minor league basketball.   I am excited to have him on board and honored that he has chosen to join us,” said Schumer.

                    “I'm just ecstatic about the opportunity to learn more about the business of basketball and still help young players achieve their goal of playing professionally,” said Guyton.  “The model Commissioner Schumer has implemented is unrivaled, and I look forward to helping the MPBA get to the next level.”

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The mission of the MPBA is to attract the top minor league basketball players, coaches, owners and staff members from across the United States, and to provide that talent with the opportunity to develop their skills in a professional environment; the MPBA will also provide its fans and supporters with a fun, value-based entertainment experience, as well as incorporate community outreach programs into its members’ operations.