Battle to coach American Heritage

American Heritage named assistant coach Fred Battle as its new head boys basketball coach on Wednesday, athletic director Karen Stearns told the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

“We’re excited to see how he does” Stearns said. “I know he’ll do a great job.”

Battle has been an assistant coach at American Heritage for three years and has more than 20 years of coaching experience as an assistant and head coach, Stearns said.

“He’s been a mainstay in Dade and Broward County for a very long time,” Stearns said.

One of Battle’s premier players is point guard Zaire Wade, the son of Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade.

The younger Wade, a junior, holds an offer from Nebraska.

Dwyane Wade said watching his son play high school basketball was important to him.

“I don’t like missing these moments,” said Wade at Miami Heat media day. “These moments for me might be more important for me than they are for him.

“I don’t know how long my son will play basketball. I don’t know if it will end after this or after a 16-year NBA career. I just love watching him do what he loves to do. I love watching him compete, and I love watching the journey. A lot of it reminds me of myself.”

The Patriots went 18-5 last season under previous head coach Brent Maffett before falling to Suncoast in the regional quarterfinals.

The boys basketball season starts Nov. 26. Teams can practice for the first time on Nov. 5.