San Diego Hoops, the city’s only GLBT co-ed recreational basketball league, is now in full swing after their kick-off draft party and fund-raiser at Pecs on Oct. 16. Teams were announced at the party and the community got its first look at some of the players.

Eight teams will participate in the 2005-06 season with Pomegranate and Club 2200 as new sponsors. San Diego Hoops was formed in 1999 as a social league to promote unity through sports for San Diego’s GLBT community. The league, now in its seventh season, consists of all skill levels and has grown from just five teams competing in a 10-week season to eight teams playing an 18-week schedule.

All teams are chosen by coaches using a draft system of registered players. The draft system aims to create balanced competition among all teams, organizers said.

Kickers defeated Morgan Stanley 58-56 in last season’s playoff championships and finished with a 17-3 overall record.

Morgan Stanley lost in the championship finals for the third straight year, finishing 2004-05 with an 18-2 record – the best record in the league – despite the loss in the finals. This season they are favored as one of the top teams.

“Morgan Stanley teams are known for their running style of play. This year will be no different,” said Morgan Stanley captain/coach Paul Demke. “We will be extremely quick and explosive on the offensive end.”

Morgan Stanley is led by last season’s MVP, Rob Simmons, who was part of the Kickers championship team.

“Rob has all the tools to once again be MVP of the league,” Demke said.

League veterans Vinny Adame and Charles McKain will lead Morgan Stanley. Three newcomers – Ray Robinson, Danny Player, and Eric Eiben – round out the team.

Demke said Robinson is a tremendous post player and Eiben is one of the quickest players in the league.

“And Danny Player has amazing hops,” Demke added. “Expect more than a few dunks from him this year.”

Pomegranate captain/coach Rick Kilgore said he looks forward to facing tough opponents this year and believes his team will rise to the challenge.

“With all the new talent in the league this season, it should be an exciting one,” he said. “Our team is a blend of new talent and returning players from previous years. We have a mixture of quickness and size, and plan on being very competitive.”

Pecs captain/coach David Valenzuela said he hopes his team can improve upon last season’s 5-12-1 record.

“The outlook for my team this season is to play well together, and be one of the teams to contend for the championship at the end of the season,” said Valenzuela. “As for the ability of the team, I think I drafted a pretty solid team that will be able to come together at the end of the season.”

AAA Mortgage Market had a solid 2004-05 campaign, finishing with an 11-8-1 record to win third place in the playoffs. Captain/coach Robert Wiggins has high hopes his team can make it all the way to the championship game.

“I already know it’s going to be better than last season,” said Wiggins. “We have a good team.”

Results from the new season’s opening games at the Golden Hills Recreational Center will be published next week. The Oct. 26 opening games pitted Morgan Stanley against Hamburger Mary’s, Club 2200 against AAA Mortgage Market, The Loft against Pomegranate, and Colorworks against Pecs. Games are held each Wednesday from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. through March, with exceptions for holidays. Each game lasts one hour. The Golden Hills Recreation Center is located at 2600 Golf Course Dr., east of downtown and south of Pershing Drive, off of 26th Street.

The Hillcrest Classic 2006, San Diego Hoops’ yearly tournament, is scheduled for Jan. 14-15. For more information about the tournament or San Diego Hoops, visit their Web site at www.sandiegohoops.com.