East Coast Basketball League (ECBL) is a men's professional basketball minor league in the United States that began play in March 2015. The league is centered in the Carolinas with teams also in Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
History Five teams (Carolina Gladiators, Fayetteville Crossover, PrimeTime Players, Queen City Express, South Carolina All-Stars) in the ECBL previously played in the Tobacco Road Basketball League. The teams broke away from the TRBL due to changes in the league format.
On August 16, 2014, the ECBL announced the addition of the Fort Gordon Eagles. A military team, the Eagles also compete in the Southeast Military Athletics Conference (SEMAC) from October to February.
Former American Basketball Association team Savannah Storm were admitted to enter the ECBL for Season 1. They would be joined by Columbia Crusaders, Gastonia Crowns and High Point Hawks to round out the 10-team circuit.
The first-ever ECBL Championship was won by PrimeTime Players, 130–113 over the Fayetteville Crossover. The final was played on June 27, 2015, in Fort Mill, South Carolina and streamed live online. Former Catawba College forward Donald Rutherford scored 34 points while grabbing 16 rebounds for PrimeTime and was named game MVP.
Four new teams joined the ECBL for the 2016 season: expansion teams Carolina MPact, Petersburg Revolution, RDU Raptors and Winston-Salem Certified (formerly of the TRBL).
Expansion into Charlotte was announced on April 8, 2016, with the addition of Charlotte Golden Bulls.
At the August 2016 AGM, league board of directors unanimously accepted the expansion application of the Florence Wildcats for 2017. Two teams also announced name changes: Peterburg Cavaliers (formerly Revolution) and North Carolina Coyotes (formerly RDU Raptors).
League owners approved the expansion application of the Carolina Thunder for 2017. The Thunder began as a travel team playing a league schedule on the road. A second travel team, Hickory Hoyas, were added to the schedule before the season opener.
Prior to the 2021 season the league added seven teams to form the new Mid-Atlantic Conference. Teams included Fredericksburg Grizzlies, Hub City Hogs, Philly Cannons, Philly Raiders, Plaistow Shockers, Red Rose Thunder and Western Mass Zombies.
Teams Central ConferenceCityArenaFoundedFirst ECBL season PrimeTime Players Fort Mill, South Carolina Legion Collegiate Academy 1991 2015Winston-Salem WolvesWinston-Salem, North CarolinaForsyth Country Day Childress Center 2018 2019 Gastonia SnipersCharlotte, North Carolina Mountain Island Fitness 2018 2019 QC VipersCharlotte, North Carolina Mountain Island Fitness 2024 2025 Charlotte Blue JacketsCharlotte, North Carolina Bette Rae Thomas Rec Center 2025 2026 Sparkle City RenegadesSpartanburg, South Carolina TBA 2025 2026 Northern Conference City Arena Founded First ECBL seasonCarolina Chosen LionsRocky Mount, North Carolina Rocky Mount Prep 2018 2019North Carolina CapitalsRaleigh, North CarolinaGarner Road Community Center 2020 2021 Petersburg CavaliersPetersburg, VirginiaRichard Bland College 2015 2016North Carolina CoyotesDurham, North Carolina TBA 2017 2018Goldsboro WingsGoldsboro, North Carolina Goldsboro Family YMCA 2024 2025Park City DreamersManassa, Virginia Potomac Sr High School 2024 2025Southern ConferenceCityArenaFoundedFirst ECBL season Carolina CrusadersColumbia, South CarolinaGlenforest School 2014 2015Carolina ThunderHartsville, South CarolinaCoach D.B. Thomas Sports Center 2016 2017 Balling BrothersMullins, South CarolinaDillon Wellness Center 2025 2026 Carolina PanthersFlorence, South CarolinaPearl Monroe Rec Center 2018 2019 Kingdom Life Basketball ClubWaxhaw, North CarolinaCuthbertson Middle School 2023 2024 South Carolina Upstate Redhawks Greenville, South Carolina Greenville First Baptist 2014 2015
Former teams Augusta Eagles (2015–20) Carolina Gladiators (2015) Carolina Kings (2017) Carolina MPact (2016) Carolina Showtime (2017; 2020) Charlotte Golden Bulls (2017) C-Port Trojans (2015–18) East Carolina Cardinals (2018–19) Fayetteville Crossover (2015–16) Fredericksburg Grizzlies (2021) Gastonia Crowns (2015) Georgia Fire (2020–21) Hickory Hoyas (2017–19; 2020–25) High Point Hawks (2015–17) Philly Cannons (2021) Queen City Express (2015) South Carolina All Stars (2015–18) Winston-Salem Certified (2016–18) Kannapolis Lycans (2020–22) North Carolina Coyotes (2017–22) Lehigh Valley Flight (2022) Coastal Elite Pirates (2021–23) Bishopville Devils (2022–23) Rebranded as QC Vipers in 2025 Hampton Roads Warriors (2017–20,2023) Florence Wildcats (2017–23) Western Mass Zombies (2021–23) Hub City Hogs (2021–23) Red Rose Thunder (2021–23) Nova Bulls (2022–23) Charlotte Tribe (2017-24) Rowan County Bulls (2017-25) DC Heat (2023-25) Philly Raiders (2021-25)
Champions Season Champion Runner-up Result 2015 PrimeTime Players Fayetteville Crossover 130-1132016PrimeTime PlayersFayetteville Crossover119-1002017PrimeTime PlayersCarolina Thunder123-1052018PrimeTime PlayersHickory Hoyas134-1182019PrimeTime PlayersWinston-Salem Wolves103-992020none (season suspended due to COVID-19) --- ---2021: South 2021: Mid-AtlanticPrimeTime Players Western Mass ZombiesNorth Carolina Coyotes Hub City Hogs130-128 122-117 (OT)2022: South 2022: Mid-AtlanticPetersburg Cavaliers Hartford ShockersCarolina Crusaders Hub City Hogs134-124 125-1142023: South 2023: Mid-AtlanticCarolina Thunder Hartford ShockersPetersburg Cavaliers The DC Heat126-102 134-1202024DC HeatCarolina Thunder115-1022025DC HeatCarolina Thunder111-93
ECBL Super Cup Winners of the ECBL Mid-Atlantic and ECBL South. +ECBL Super CupYearWinnerRunner-upResultLocation2021PrimeTime PlayersWestern Mass Zombies133-129Combine Academy, Lincolnton, North Carolina2022Hartford ShockersPetersburg Cavaliers130-110Hartford, CT
References
External links Official league website