DIABLOS SEASON 1
While not viewed as a pre-season favorite, the Diablos Season 1 team was better than anyone knew, going to the Slamball championship game. In addition, all 8 Diablos from season 1 were listed as starters for season 2, an example of the great depth the team had.
Mason Gordon, the team's starting handler in season 2, was originally a gunner. The handlers were Calvin Patterson and Josh Carlson, who were both left unprotected the next season. Patterson led the Riders to the playoffs and was an MVP-candidate, while Carlson teamed up with Dan Knuckney at handler to lead the Slashers past the Diablos for the X Division's final playoff spot.
Gordon, the inventor of the Slamball, started at gunner with first-team All-Star David Jackson, the Virginia Tech Hokie who is the best outside shooter in the league. They were backed up by Albert Jones, who became the starting stopper for the Steal, and J.D. Green, who got a shot with the Bandits the next season.
Both stoppers remained with the team in season 2. Anthony "Rooftop" White became a league superstar with his ability to dunk right over people. Football player Ray Ross was also a stopper, before becoming the Diablos' starting gunner, next to Jackson.
Coach Mark Ellis told James Anderson, "I made my decision on Anthony White, David Jackson, Calvin Patterson, Ray Ross with his big game experience in football, and Mason Gordon, who invented the game. Having Mason can be a double-edged sword though. He invented the game and is probably the headiest, gifted, and sees the game like no one else can. He literally sees the action two to three passes ahead of everyone else all the time. The bad part is he was the founder, major producer and had a lot on his plate trying to run an operation and get it out of the gates properly. I was busy in the beginning with things like practice facilities and times for the teams. I was responsible for recruiting people, releasing them and dealing with coaches that wanted to make trades and getting their drafts in."
Ellis also talked about his All-Slamball gunner David Jackson, "We had David Jackson that I took as a 3rd round draft pick. He spent like maybe two hours on the trampolines before the draft. He was so positive that he wouldn’t get drafted that he didn’t even show up. He stayed at the hotel and had to be called up to tell him he was drafted. I took him because I saw something in that kid. He has so much heart and a never say die attitude."