Sports Writer

Kissimmee's next foray as a professional sports town is set to take flight at the Kissimmee Civic Center.

Literally.

The Florida Flight is an expansion team in the World Basketball Association, billed as an “exposure league,” and will play eight home games at the downtown Civic Center (16 in all), beginning Tuesday. The team will hold an exhibition against Skillz Athletics, a traveling semi-pro team, Sunday.

The league, which debuted in 2004, also is comprised this year of three Georgia teams (Decatur, Gwinett, Marietta) and ones in Franklin, Tenn., Tupelo, Miss., and Jacksonville.

The game Tuesday against the Jacksonville BlueWaves is the opening game on the WBA schedule.

Majority owner Mark King hopes the team can be the same inspirational story that he was. The 34-year-old Michigan native was cut numerous times from his high school team, but still worked hard enough to earn a tryout, and a spot on the junior varsity team, and later at Pikeville College in Kentucky.

When his college coaching staff helped form the East Kentucky Miners of the Continental Basketball Association, he progressed from team manager to practice player to full member of the team, getting minutes in mop-up duty.

King said he and fellow backers chose the WBA to take a more regional approach for the first year to minimize the burden of travel costs and chose the venue in Kissimmee because of its “user friendliness” and the fact that it is a bit removed from Orlando, which is home to the NBA's Magic.

"We've marketed the team, and made some key connections within the community,” he said. “It is time that downtown Kissimmee could use an event draw. We researched the minor league landscape in the Southeast and it was clear to us that the WBA was the ideal place for us.”

King, a 5-11 guard, also may play for the Flight, as holding a dual role is something to which King is no stranger. As a member of the Orlando Aces of the American Basketball Association in 2005, he played and was the director of basketball operations and the webmaster.

The Flight will be coached by Levi Cobb, a former assistant at the nationally ranked Montverde Academy prep school. Greg Kite, a former Orlando Magic center, is the general manager.

Ernest Jones, Flight director of basketball operations, and Andrew Haas, director of corporate relations, also will play while helping to run the team.

King said that former Osceola High School star and Florida State signee J.D. Bracy has worked out with the team in pre-season camps and may be on the team.

“He's a tremendous guy, a well-spoken guy, who, for one reason or another, didn't get an opportunity to be seen on the main NCAA stage,” King said. “This league is for hungry guys who are passionate about basketball and want to improve.”

The team will carry an active roster of 10 to 12 players and another three on a practice squad. Most of the games (and travel) are on weekends, benefiting players with regular jobs.

Tickets are $5 for the exhibition on Sunday and $10 per game for all regular season games. Season tickets are $50 and are available through the Civic Center or at the team's website (www.flighthoops.com).

King said the mission of the Florida Flight is to "understand community involvement and utilize the platform of professional basketball to promote a positive, healthy, morally sound society that values the importance of teaching critical societal elements like teamwork, leadership, accountability and love and respect for others."

The Miami Heat's Jemario Moon came from the WBA, playing for the Rome, Ga., Gladiators in 2005.

To find out more information on the Flight, such as its season schedule, go to the team's website at www.flighthoops.com. Information on the WBA is at www.wbaball.net.

The Flight will become the fifth sport to put a pro team in Kissimmee.

The Osceola Astros/Kissimmee Cobras played Class A Florida State League baseball from 1985-2000, the Kissimmee Kreatures/Osceola Ghostriders played in the National and World Indoor Football League from in 2005-07 and the Florida Seals were in the Southern Professional Hockey League from 2005-07. They all played at Osceola Heritage Park.

The National Pro Fastpitch USSSA Pride debuted last year and is expected to return to Osceola High School this summer.

The Cobras' 1999 FSL championship remains the county's only league title.