LOS ANGELES LIGHTNING JOIN INTERNATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE

Westlake, CA—The International Basketball League is excited to announce that its newest team, the Los Angeles Lightning, has officially joined the league for the 2008 season. The Lightning are owned by Mark Harwell, a
television and movie executive with experience in developing and marketing professional basketball teams in several different leagues.

"I'm excited about bringing this team here to the WestlakeThousand Oaks community," said Harwell, who will serve as owner and general manager.

"It's a great opportunity to see a high level of pro ball, including some players they've seen on TV for years. My hope is that we will sign four or five NBA veterans.

We want to provide an environment similar to Staples
Center with the courtside seats, celebrities, a VIP lounge, and the fireworks of a great event that a family can experience without having to commute to downtown and back."

Harwell has spent the last four years involved in acquisitions and development of television and movie projects with his company, True Grit Entertainment at The Culver Studios.

In addition, Harwell has assisted with franchise development with teams in the WBL, CBA, USBL, and, last season, in the IBL with the Santa Barbara Breakers.

The Breakers boasted more exNBA players than any IBL team in 2007. The roster included Lamond Murray, the former firstround draft choice of the Clippers; exUCLA great and former Phoenix Sun Toby Bailey; NBA champion Samaki Walker, and exSeattle Sonic Fred Vinson, who set an IBL record of 15 three pointers in a single game.

The Breakers went 176 and came within one game of playing for the IBL championship. Harwell expects the Lightning to be a similar team in terms of recognizable talent and oncourt success.