Team Edwards returns to hardwood in Military Basketball Association play Published April 15, 2025 By Gary Hatch 412th Test Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The big news is that after a five-year absence, Edwards once again put a men’s basketball team on the floor to represent the base in the Military Basketball Association, which just wrapped up regular season play for the 2024-5 season. Team Edwards finished with a more-competitive-than-it-sounds 3-9 record in the Pacific West Conference – good enough to make the playoffs – which are set to start toward the end of April. “This was our first year back after a five-year absence and we put a competitive team on the floor,” said coach Trivone Curry, a senior master sergeant with the 412th Communications Squadron. When at full strength the team had three good wins along with several close losses – within a possession or two, Curry said. The team did suffer a rough winless midseason stretch when key players were unable to play because their unit was on a remote temporary duty assignment – a scenario that is at times a fact of life in military competition. While Edwards qualified for the playoffs, Curry said he doesn’t think the team will be able to travel to compete in postseason play. They just don’t have the money to fly to Oklahoma City for the tournament. The season schedule is organized to make it as easy as possible for military organizations to compete. One weekend a month two teams in the conference act as host and two other teams will travel to the host base where all three teams play each other twice that weekend. Meanwhile the same thing happens at another host installation. That means teams only need to travel and stay at or near another base once a month, and the bases are within driving distance. But one of the challenges for the team is that they have to pay their own travel expenses – transportation, food and lodging. And when it comes to travelling to Oklahoma City, the cost of airfare becomes prohibitive. “We’re looking and hoping to find some help from sponsorships to offset our travel costs. Right now, I don’t know what all those options may be, but I’m researching that question right now,” Curry said. MBA teams are made up of both military and civilian players, who must be assigned to the base they play for. Several players filled key roles for the team this season, Curry said. The first is team captain Jaleel Walker. “He’s my go-to-guy. He’s the leader of the team. He’s an orchestrator – he gets everyone involved,” Curry said. Walker shares both point-guard and shooting guard duties with another key contributor, Jay Skinner. They both bring the ball up the court and will take turns setting the offense in motion, but with slightly different skill sets. “Jay is Mr. Flash – he’s the quickest guy on the court. He can get to the hoop at will,” Curry said. Seu Kuka is a forward who plays on the wing, but Curry says he is an all-around player who could fill positions one through five if needed. “We call him Junior. He is the muscle of the team. He's very strong. He could dunk on anybody. He’s just an overall strong, physical player,” Curry said. Another guard, Jason Kirkland, is a highly skilled player who joined the team midseason because he had a permanent change of station to Edwards. “He is a very skilled player. I would say he is the MVP of our team. He could go and play all-Air Force tomorrow if he wanted to,” Curry said. Guard Aaron Scott is a player with a lot of experience and a great feel for the game. “He has a very high basketball IQ. He’s played overseas and he really knows how to play the game,” Curry said. “And I’ve got to show some love to my assistant coach Kalvin Moore. He’s a master sergeant with the Explosive Ordnance Disposal squadron. He helped me with everything all season long,” Curry said. The MBA sponsors basketball championships in four conferences across the country. In addition to the Pacific West there are the Atlantic Coastal, Central and Geographically Dislocated conferences. The full roster and the 2024-5 season schedule follow: Team Edwards Men’s Basketball Roster No. Name Position Rank/Grade Unit 1 Jaleel Walker G Civ/NK-01 412th FSS 4 Jay Skinner G A1C/E-3 412th SFS 5 Seu Kuka F PO2/E-5 VX-9 11 Jason Kirkland G SrA/E-4 412th SFS 8 Anthony Day F Civ/NH-02 412th LRS 21 Richard Smedes F/C SrA/E-4 412th MXS 6 Jaiden Criss G A1C/E-3 412th AMXS 15 Jamel Loyd F SrA/E-4 412th MXS 50 Marshall Thompson C Capt/0-3 AFOTEC Det. 5 2 Aaron Scott G Civ/VA VA 34 Dalton Smith G 2 Lt/0-1 412th SFS 12 Corey Green F PO3/E-4 VX-9 0 Isaiah Brown G Amn/E-2 412th SFS 3 Gregory Price G A1C/E-3 412th SFS Top row L-R: Aaron Scott, U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Corey Green, U.S. Air Force Capt. Marshall Thompson, Anthony Day, U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jamel Loyd, U.S. Air Force Airman Isaiah Brown. Coach: U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Trivone Curry. Assistant coach: U.S Master Sgt. Kalvin Moore. Bottom row L-R: U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jason Kirkland, U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Richard Smedes, U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Dalton Smith, Jaleel Walker, U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jaiden Criss, U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jay Skinner, U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Gregory Price. Not pictured: U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Seu Kuka Team Edwards Men’s Basketball 2024-5 Season Record L – Jan. 11 – Edwards 85, Nellis 89 L – Jan. 11 – Edwards 65, Davis-Monthan 76 L – Jan. 12 – Davis-Monthan 72, Edwards 67 W – Jan. 12 – Nellis 79, Edwards 93 L – Feb.1 – Luke 85, Edwards 62 L – Feb. 1 – Fort Irwin, 96, Edwards 70 L – Feb. 2 – Edwards 79, Fort Irwin 82 L – Feb. 2 – Edwards 67, Luke 104 L – Mar 1 – Nellis 79, Edwards 66 W – Mar 1 – Travis 69, Edwards 77 W – Mar 2 – Edwards 71, Travis 61 L – Mar 2 – Edwards 57, Nellis 71