Most basketball coaches want consistency on their rosters. They want players around for as long as they can so the team can mesh and players get to know each other.
But Chicago Steam coach Ron Hicks is not like that. His philosophy is that the more players leave his team in the middle of the season, the better.
The Steam is a five-year-old expansion developmental professional basketball team made of past stars (former Illinois player Shelly Clark and former NBA player Sam Mack) mixed in with younger guys who still have dreams of making it to a higher level.
Steam coach Ron Hicks, a former West Aurora standout, gives his team a talk. (Jeff Vorva/Tribune)
“Our thing is to develop these guys and get them somewhere,” said Hicks, who is also a co-owner of the team. “We go to China every year to get them some kind of exposure to get them out of here. To me, it’s not a good thing if you see the same guys playing here in February. I’m not here to win a championship.’’
Hicks is a former star at West Aurora High School and played college ball at Northern Illinois University. He said he played 14 years in Europe and coached there for three. He coached at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Triton Junior College and Malcolm X University.
The team plays in the American Basketball Association league and faces teams from the Midwest. Its home games are at South Suburban College in South Holland and Fosco Park in Chicago.
Jeremy Calahan, who attended Harper College, is a member of the Steam. (Jeff Vorva/Tribune)
Area players on the roster include former Waubonsie Valley and Aurora University guard Jarrett Starwood, Harper College’s Jeremy Calahan, Romeoville resident Saruna Skadas and Eddie King, who is listed as attending Lewis University.
Arthur Agee, whose high school and college career was chronicled in the film “Hoop Dream” was also a member of the Steam for three games this year.
The Steam won eight of its first nine games and plays an uptempo style, scoring 118 or more points six times.
Hicks said he hasn’t sent a player to the NBA yet but has sent them to Europe and elite developmental leagues.
For more information on the team and the remaining schedule or how to try to join the team, visit http://chicagosteambasketball.com/
