UF stars to face local all-stars

By KEVIN KELLY

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 12, 2000

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Steve Feldman's idea of a goodbye gift for some area senior basketball players wasn't a feel-good all-star game or a wrist watch.

The Gulf coach instead organized a charity game as 14 top players from Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties will face a team of former Florida football players, including "The Freak."

At 7 p.m. Thursday, the Suncoast Stars will play the Swamp Shooters -- a team that includes Titans Pro Bowl linebacker Jevon Kearse. "They may be doing this for charity, but these guys are not going to be guys who picked up a basketball for the first time," said Feldman, who will coach the Suncoast Stars. "I definitely think our work is going to be cut out for us."

Feldman's team boasts seven All-Sunshine Athletic Conference picks -- Cory Seels, Pops Aponte, Joe Handelong, Joe Hoolihan, John Howell, Eric Southward and Brian Tomlin.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to charity. The Swamp Shooters also will speak to the crowd between quarters and are expected to sign autographs. Feldman got the idea when a Florida booster spoke to his economics class. The plan was finalized last month, and Feldman began to gather his team.

"I tried to make it an all-senior team so that the seniors, and we had plenty of good ones, could go out on a nice note," he said.

The team practiced Saturday to "shake off some of the rust" and put in basic offensive and defensive sets.

"I was kidding with the guys that it's kind of a coach's dream to look at a roster with this much talent," he said. "I expect them to play a wide-open, NBA style game. I think (both teams) can certainly make each other look good."

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