Terence Dill has swapped the basketball court for the front office after becoming a general manager of new Atlantic Coast Professional Basketball League franchise the Buffalo Warriors.The 24-year-old played for Buffalo Stampede in the ACPBL last season but has put his playing career on hold after forming the Warriors with fellow Buffalo-based player Franklin Jackson.Dill, an ex-Devonshire Dragons power forward, said he was approached by the owner of the ACPBL about setting up his own team for the new season, which gets underway next month.Having gained some experience organising teams in the local Bermuda leagues, Dill isn’t a complete novice when it comes to administrative work, although he admits running a pro team is quite literally “a different ball game”.“I believe my partner and I will do just fine this year managing the team; we’re both young intelligent men and with the right drive and focus there’s no reason why we shouldn’t make a great run this season,” he said.“The owner of the ACPBL contacted me about a month ago and asked about my status for the upcoming season. I told him I was going to play for the Buffalo Stampede and he said ‘why not start your own team,’ so I took the necessary steps to obtain my own professional team’.“I’ve put teams together in local leagues before but I must admit this feels like a completely different ball game.”Had it not been for the help and support of his family and friends Dill would have quit the game altogether earlier this year after being left devastated by the death of his baby son.He now plans to use the Warriors as a vehicle to provide the Island’s promising young players an opportunity to join the pro ranks.“This past year has been extremely rough on me and my family,” Dill said. “During last season our four-month old son died and I wasn’t sure even if I wanted to continue to play ball anymore. But with my wife, family, and most importantly God walking with me every step of the way, I’m now at the position I’m in today.“I really feel this is really huge step not only for me but for Bermuda basketball because I’m bridging the gap so others behind me don’t have to go through the same obstacles that I had to go through to turn pro. I do intend on coming home very soon to give a fellow Bermudian a shot a joining my team this year.”ACPBL commissioner James Schutz has backed Dill’s Warriors to be a big success this season.“Dill is a talented basketball player with strong business and basketball connections in both Bermuda and the United States,” stated commissioner Schutz.“Combined with regional/local player knowledge of Franklin Jackson, this could turn out to be a play-off bound team in just their first season on the pro basketball circuit.”Dill was first spotted by his former club’s general manager and former Hall of Famer, Bouie Roosevelt, who watched him in action during a visit to Bermuda last summer and subsequently invited him for a three-day trial at the Stampede.But Dill’s chances of impressing were ruined when he turned his ankle forcing him returned home to recover from his injury and weigh up his next move. He attended trials for a team in North Carolina and considered trying his luck in Europe before Stampede came calling again with a contract offer last October.Dill has also appealed for any sponsors to come on board and support his new venture.For more details contact Dill at buffalowarriors[AT]ymail.com.