Late coaching move: Battle replaces Maffett at Heritage-Plantation
With less than a month to go before FHSAA boys basketball teams can officially begin practice (Nov. 5), American Heritage-Plantation has made a change at the top of its program.
Assistant coach Fred Battle has been moved up to head coach of the Patriots, replacing Brent Maffett, according to Heritage Athletic Director Karen Stearns.
“We decided to move in a different direction,” Stearns said.
Battle has been an assistant under Maffett the past three seasons. Maffett came in as an assistant in 2013 and had been the head man since 2014.
Stearns said Battle has 23 years of experience, both as a head coach and assistant coach, in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
“He has an extensive background,” Stearns said. “We’re pretty excited about what he’s going to bring to the table. He’s respected in the community.”
Some felt American Heritage underachieved at 18-5 a season ago. The senior-laden Patriots took an 18-3 record into the district championship game but fell to Stranahan, 75-57. Heritage then was eliminated by Suncoast, 55-53, in the first round of the Class 6A regionals.
Heritage pretty much turned over its roster heading into this season. Gone is a senior back court, as well as high-scoring forward Damari Monsanto, who transferred to Western.
Battle will have several weapons at his disposal, however, including Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade‘s son, Zaire Wade (2020), a point guard with an early scholarship offer from Nebraska; senior Cyrus Nance, who was the glue to a talented, young Stranahan squad a season ago; and 2021 Dallas Turner, who is just off attending the USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team mini-camp in Colorado. Turner’s dad, Delon Turner, will be an assistant on Battle’s squad.
Two other names to keep an eye on at Heritage are Andrew Volmar (2020) and Darius Tigner (2022).
“We’ve got a good group,” Battle said. “I’m mostly big on playing defense. I’m an up-tempo type.”
Battle played and graduated from Florida Memorial. He then played professional basketball overseas.
If you have high school basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer via e-mail at PatALammer@Gmail.com or via text at 954-661-9671.