Since 1987, the Prime Time League has provided Iowa basketball players and many other top college and high school athletes in the region with organized, summertime competition.

The league's 23rd season tips off Monday night with fewer teams and a renewed emphasis on a higher competitive level of play.

"What I would like to see our players involved with is a competitive endeavor where there is some value to the time they put into it," Iowa coach Todd Lickliter said.

Before this year's PTL draft, Lickliter and Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson talked with league commissioner Randy Larson about what they hope their players can gain from the six weeks of competition on the courts at the community center in North Liberty, Iowa.

"Randy puts a lot of time and effort into the league, and that is appreciated. I know it's been a great experience for our players and it's something we want to see continue," Jacobson said last week during a visit to the Quad-Cities for a UNI golf outing in Bettendorf.

Lickliter wants the league to continue, but he doesn't want it to be a breeding ground for bad habits.

He expressed concern about the quality of the competition he witnessed in the PTL last summer and has worked with Larson to find a solution.

"I want our players participating in games in a structured environment where they can work on things that will be beneficial during our season," Lickliter said. "Randy does a great job, and I think he wants good competition as much as we do."

Toward that objective, the number of teams in the league has been reduced to six this summer, down from eight in previous years.

That will result in 22 fewer roster spots for players this year in the PTL, and with fewer teams drafting fewer players, the hope is that the overall level of play will improve.

"With more evenly-matched teams, I believe it can help everyone," Lickliter said.

The league held its annual draft last Wednesday in Iowa City and Iowa's Matt Gatens and Jarryd Cole were the first two picks. Northern Iowa players Adam Koch and Jordan Eglseder, former Northern Iowa player Eric Coleman and Hawkeye Anthony Tucker were the other first-round choices.

NCAA rules limit each team to two returning players from a single institution, but allow newcomers to participate with veteran players.

Newcomers Devon Archie, Brennan Cougill, Eric May and Cully Payne will be among 11 players from the Hawkeyes' 2009-10 roster playing in the PTL, while 14 players from Northern Iowa are among the 66 players named to spots on PTL rosters.

Larson, an Iowa City attorney who founded the league, also has adopted a change proposed by Jacobson.

In the past, the PTL has played games on two nights each week. This season, the schedule will rotate between two nights one week and one night the next to reduce travel issues for UNI participants and the five players from Division II Upper Iowa who will compete this year.

"We want our guys to be there as much as possible because there is a benefit to playing in a league like the PTL," Jacobson said. "I know it has helped our players over the years and I think we all want to see it work. I think the changes will help make that happen."

GTL tips off as wellThe women's counterpart to the Prime Time League, the Game Time League, will tip off its 2009 season on Tuesday in North Liberty, Iowa.

 

Four returning Iowa players, Kachine Alexander, Hannah Draxten, JoAnn Hamlin and Kamille Wahlin, were the first four chosen in Thursday's draft for the four-team league.

Hawkeyes women's basketball coach Lisa Bluder said during an I-Club outing in the Quad-Cities last week that she considers the summer league a chance for players to enjoy some summer competition.

"When you can only put two teammates on the same team, it doesn't do much as far as building your team for the upcoming season, but it's good for them to get out in front of fans and play," Bluder said.

"I know that is something they look forward to and it will be a good experience for our newcomers. The work they put in together with their teammates in the summer will help our team develop, but I think the GTL can be a benefit for them, too."

The league will play its games on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week through July 23.