Proud Owners of Basketball Franchise
Griffin Daily News, Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Long-time Grif fin native and former hoop player, Alan “Duck” Richards, the Founder/Director of the Griffin Grasshoppers Youth Association, a not-for-prof-it 501 c(3), for nearly 30 years and also the Founder of Coach Duck University Skills and Drills Basketball Fundamentals Training Sessions, continues to pave the way for others who passionately loves basketball as much as he does.
Richards and his wife, Shalesia, are the new own-ers of the Atlanta Aliens, a professional basketball team in the ABA’s Georgia Division.
Coach Richards, a former Griffin Bear and assistant basketball coach at Griffin High School, has been a part of the ABA since 2010 as a successful GM/head coach during which time his teams have posted a high winning percentage.
Richards and his wife recently purchased the team from its original owner, Adrian Provost.
The opportunity came about after last season when Provost told Richards he intended to sell the team and asked if he would be interested in buying the team before he put it on the market.
Richar ds shar ed this information with his wife, they consulted legally for clarity and, of course, prayed.
“To God be the Glor y,” said Richards. “My wife and I are very grateful to be in the position to continue to help others fulfill their dreams.”
As an ABA owner, they plan to provide players with a chance to play basketball at the professional level to help advance their careers. They will also have jobs and internships for college students transitioning into their career pathway.
Coach Duck and his wife would love to collaborate with local high schools to use the Atlanta Aliens as a fundraiser which can provide fans with exciting professional basketball at affordable prices.
Local businesses are welcome to interact as another effective way to market their business, added coach Richards. For the past two decades, Duck Richards has shown the community of Griffin that his calling is to impact people.
Richards credits his parents, Ruby Hillman Richards and the late J.W. Richards, who taught him how to combine knowledge and wisdom to make an impact on others. His wife stated that’s what attracted her many years ago.
“He (Coach Duck) loves helping kids,” said Shalesia Richards. “In order to love him, I must also love what he loves, and I fully support him.” According to coach Richards, the Griffin area has a lot of hidden talent that’s being overlooked.
As the owner of a professional basketball team, Richards plans to help many more dreams become a reality for local players after their collegiate days have ended.
Players such as Willie Roy Puckett, Thomas “Jay” Brown, Sidney Harris, Charles Corbin, Ciquez Jester, Jonathan Simpson and Rashad Faust — all former Griffin Bears — have played for the Atlanta Aliens at one time or another.
