It’s a general rule of thumb that you never make a bet that you can’t win. Friday night in Lake City, one man will lose a bet, but not because of a lack of effort.
It started when Gainesville’s Mike Williams was talking to Lake City’s Adee Farmer about his Gainesville Untouchables basketball team. Farmer said he could put up a team that could beat the Untouchables, which competes in tournaments every summer.
The bet, and the recruiting, was on.
Some of the rosters will look different when the teams tip off Friday at Lake City’s Richardson Community Center gym at 7:30 p.m., as both coaches called in some big guns in an attempt to win.
The Lake City All-Stars squad will be made up of several former Columbia players, but will also feature former Gator and current Philadelphia 76ers center Marreese Speights. Mike Crain and Jon Rogers, both of whom have played overseas will also be on the team with Antaze Smart, a two-time player of the year in Pinellas County. Former Tigers Jakeem Hill and Vince Folston, who currently play for St. John’s River Community College, and Kenny Williams will also play.
Former Lake City Community College coach Tony Johnson is coaching the team.
Gainesville’s squad is led by former Gator Chris Richard, who is coming off of a back injury that cost him most of his first season after being the top pick in the NBA’s Developmental League Draft last year. Four players from the two-time state champions Gainesville High School teams of 1999-2000, Orien Greene, Gerald Fields, Jerry Edwards and Ron Larris will also be on the Gainesville squad.
Joining them is Ray White of JUCO National Champion Wallace Community College, former P.K. Yonge player Terry Williams and Keystone Heights legend John L. Smith, who once scored 81 points in a game for Santa Fe College.
Admission to the game is $10, with children five-and-under getting in for free. All of the proceeds go to Richardson Community Center summer camp program and Lake City Exposure Foundation.
