Lancaster, Ohio  |  The Pro Basketball Association announced on Tuesday that the Lancaster Thunder have been awarded a franchise for the 2021 PBA Spring-Summer Season. The Lancaster Thunder basketball team was founded in 2018 by David Fant. Fant, a resident of Lancaster for nearly 20 years, was born in South Carolina and has been involved with basketball at many levels his entire life. He is a lifelong educator who has devoted his career to public service. The Thunder are led by coach Jamelle Cornley. Cornley has an impressive resume which includes: former Mr. Ohio Basketball, Big Ten Freshman of the Year (Penn St), NIT MVP, played pro ball on four continents, and won a championship in Puerto Rico. The Thunder will play their home games at Ohio University – Lancaster. More info about the team can be found at: www.LancasterThunderBB.com or their Facebook and Instagram pages. 

The Lancaster Thunder previously played in the Premiere Basketball League and join the Rochester Razorsharks and Buffalo Blaze that previously played in the PBL. Many of the teams in the Pro Basketball Association are the top teams from various minor leagues such as the PBL, ABA, and MBL among others. Lancaster is a suburb of Columbus approximately 37 minutes to the Southeast of the Ohio Capital. Geographically they fit in to the PBA’s Midwest Division with partner clubs of the association in Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Elkhart IN, Detroit, etc.

“We’re super excited about the Lancaster Thunder. Everyone I spoke with said they’re a top flight organization on and off the court. The club is really strong in the community and has strong partners that they brand with in the area. David has assembled a first class team and his management and coaching staff is also highly regarded. We love the fit! This is what we keep talking about. One of the best of the best minor league organizations that saw the business model of the PBA coupled with the marketing and promotion of the clubs in the Association and the International respect we’re garnering from Overseas clubs… it fits with their goals of offering a quality product to the fans while also putting the players in their organization in the best position possible for advancement in their professional endeavors.” PBA Commissioner – Chris Terrell