While no one can say how long it will last, the return of basketball to San Diego is a welcome sight for many local hoops fans. The American Basketball Association is returning to San Diego as the San Diego Surf takes the court next season with the league’s famed red, white and blue basketball. The team will be under the ownership of University City resident and local businessman Ross Kurland, playing its games at Cathedral Catholic High School. Local hoops fans will remember that the San Diego Wildcats played just one game a season ago before going out of business due to financial problems. In a recent release, ABA CEO Joe Newman noted, “We are very pleased to welcome sportsman/businessman Ross Kurland to the ABA. Ross has a wonderful background operating many businesses in San Diego since 1976 as well as an interesting background in sports, including basketball and boxing. His approach to marketing is unique and we believe that he will have a very successful operation both on and off the court. Hopefully, we can use some of his ideas around the league.” Kurland noted that while he believes the previous team in America’s Finest City did a great job, there is room for improvement. “I think San Diego is America’s finest city and we haven’t really maximized the potential since the NBA Clippers departed (to Los Angeles) in the ’80s,” Kurland said in a statement. “Our fans deserve truly exciting professional basketball at affordable prices — and that’s what we’ll deliver. We have great coaches and are planning a huge tryout shortly — so we know we’ll have a great team too.” Terry Mason will coach the squad, having recently retired after three decades as a high school educator and coach. The Surf will hold its first player tryout on Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center in La Jolla in anticipation of the season opener, which is tentatively slated for Dec. 5. For more information, e-mail [email protected] or call (858) 622-0111.