May 13, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - While hundreds of graduates were gathered inside the old UCF Arena prior to their commencement in early May, a pair of Knights were utilizing the newest athletics facility on campus. As the graduates prepared for their event inside the new UCF Arena, Jermaine Taylor and Drew Speraw were working out inside the new men's basketball practice facility.
For the first time, the Knights now have a dedicated court for practices and workouts. Renovations inside the old arena were recently completed and Taylor and Speraw wasted no time hitting the court.
Members of the team can access the facility anytime, which excites head coach Kirk Speraw.
"Our guys will really benefit from the new practice facility," said Speraw. "They can come in here to shoot or play pickup games anytime. In the past, we would have to search for a place to play or hope that the old arena court was not being used, but we no longer have those obstacles."
Although most of the Knights are not on campus for the first summer semester, the facility is getting good use.
Former Knight Josh Peppers recently stopped by to use the facility. Peppers spent the 2007-08 campaign playing professionally in Japan and plans to spend time during the summer in Orlando.
In June, the UCF coaching staff will utilize the facility when it hosts three installments of the Kirk Speraw Basketball Camp.
This week, Speraw is attending the Conference USA spring meetings in Destin, Fla.
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