Heat players ready to make most of opportunity

GAINESVILLE -- Jeremy Stinnett came to Gainesville looking for an opportunity, a shot to live his dream, so did Delono Yarbrough, Reshard Nasseri and Tony Sparkman.

They believe they have found the perfect fit in the Gainesville Heat.

"I love the game of basketball, and I am so excited to have a chance to play and improve my game with the Heat," said Stinnett, a native of Athens, Ala.

It is a sentiment expressed by all those players who have opted to join the semi-professional team that is gearing up toward its first season -- which will begin play in October in the American Basketball Association.

"I want to improve my game, win and get a shot to move to the next level," said Sparkman, a native of Lake Worth Fla., who also played at North Country Junior College and Tennessee Temple. "I feel like this team will provide me with the perfect opportunity to do that."

The plethora of homegrown talent dotting the Heat's roster -- which has been set and is beginning to work toward a cohesive unit -- also hopes to use the team as a building block, while also helping their new team to success on the court.

"It's about getting better exposure," said Joshten Hopkins, a former East Hall and Flowery Branch High standout, who will play with the Heat.

Former East Hall standout Charles Perry agreed.

"This will get my name out there more, maybe help me get a look at playing overseas," Perry said.

It is a road that numerous basketball hopefuls must take as they try to maximize their abilities toward a pro career.

"A lot of guys go through different levels of play to get to the top these days," said former East Hall and current Heat player Tracy Lipscomb. "There's a lot of guys in the NBA that come from overseas of the (Developmental) League. They have to start somewhere."

The members of the Heat hope to make it a successful beginning -- both personally and for the brand new franchise. And they believe from what they've seen through tryouts and preseason practices and workouts that they have the ability to do just that.

"We've got great talent; we've just got to put it all together," said Gainesville High grad and Heat member Jerome Williams. "We've got to be unselfish and work as a group. If we can do that I think we can win a lot of games."

That will most assuredly prove difficult in what coach Joshua Randolph has called the hardest division in the ABA (the Atlantic South), but the Heat hopes to blend athleticism and defensive tenacity to great effect.

"We've got a lot of athleticism and quickness," Yarbrough said. "We're going to spread the court on offense and work hard in defense. We've just got to learn to play with each other."

The Heat will have plenty of time to learn just that over the coming weeks and months, as they prepare for their inaugural campaign. The team plans to play at Gainesville State College in Oakwood.

"We've been bonding already," said former East Hall and current Heat player Jevaris Ware. "It's going to be tough, but we're working hard."

In short, it's an opportunity that no Heat player wants to let slip.

"I'm super excited; this is such a blessing," Nasseri, an Athens, Ala., native said. "We all want to make the most of this."