OTR Circuit: Finding Treasure with the Florida All-Stars

In four years, the Florida All-Stars have grown from a single middle school team into one of Florida's hottest up-and-coming programs. The key? A program-wide commitment to accountability and being there for the players in ways that produce real growth.

Program Snapshot

Name: Florida All-Stars
Home Base: Port St. Lucie, Florida
Founder: Jerome Stone
Founding Coach: Derrick DeRita
Coach: Christopher Cook - Varsity assistant coach since 2022
Coach: DeAndres Bellamy - 10th Grade coach certified plyometrics & agility coach
Coach: Frito St Hilaire - certified personal fitness trainer
Coach: Arben Fernandez -9th grade coach
Team Manager: Jamie DeRita
Motto: Work Hard Today for an Easier Tomorrow

An Unexpected Beginning

Port St. Lucie is located halfway between Miami and Daytona Beach on Florida’s east coast. The region earned the nickname ‘The Treasure Coast’ nearly 65 years ago when treasure hunters discovered immense amounts of gold, silver coins, and other valuable jewels in the Port Saint Lucie beaches. These riches were lost in the early 18th century by Spanish explorers who seized riches while plundering the New World colonies. A hurricane hit the Atlantic coast, wrecking the Spanish ships and scattering the treasure across the seafloor and beaches.

This is where the Florida All-Stars got their start. Today’s sunken treasure may not be silver coins on the seafloor, but a new generation of basketball players dedicated to their craft.

The Florida All-Stars began as a girls’ basketball program founded by Jerome Stone more than four years ago. Stone had an interest in growing the organization by adding boys’ teams. As fate would have it, a group of middle school boys were looking for a travel team and a coach. Enter Coach Derrick DeRita, who was coaching one of the middle school players in a rec league, and a relationship was formed instantly.

A parent on the sideline who was impressed with DeRita’s demeanor with the kids said, “You want to coach a team? I have the organization and the team. Now we just need you.”

The Florida All-Stars were formed at that moment. A treasure was discovered, this time in a gym.

Building Not a Plundering

DeRita graduated from Okeechobee High School in 2002. In his senior year, he finished as the state leader in 3-pointers made. His wife, Jamie, says that he played basketball non-stop as an adolescent.  She added, “That was the only way out of his home situation.”

Hurricanes are not the only source of destruction and the scattering of valuable assets in Florida. Unfortunately, the devastation of broken homes and social circumstances leads to children being isolated. Often there are players who play without family support. Jamie, who acts as the Florida All-Stars Team Manager, says that her husband goes the extra mile for these kids. “So many of these kids do not have role models in their lives. That is why Derrick is running around all the time to see and support as many kids as he can. Many of them do not have a parent in the crowd for one reason or another. He doesn’t want these kids to feel the way he felt growing up.”

From the outset of the Florida All-Stars, DeRita set out to be different. Accountability is a word that is used often within the program. The focus is on transforming their skills, but also their mental approach. Jamie explains, “There are programs that take advantage of kids and parents. And they do not end up delivering anything. That is not the expectation for this program. Derrick is trying to build young men into productive adults who are ready for success in life.”

The Florida All-Stars often practice four days a week. In addition to standard basketball drills, DeRita incorporates physical training modeled after collegiate training. Examples include weightlifting, yard workouts, plyometrics, and conditioning.

Growth Mindset

The Florida All-Stars are no longer just a small club with a few teams. They now boast 13 girls’ and boys’ teams in total between the 10U and 19U. The program added teams in Okeechobee, which is about 45 minutes west of Port Saint Lucie.

Jamie talks about the aim of the program by saying, “if you are not making your players better and getting them exposure, then you are doing them a disservice.”

Growth is limited only by the number of quality coaches they can find. Expanding throughout the state of Florida is the goal of the directors, which is achievable through the dedication of the staff and volunteers who have bought into the Florida All-Stars’ vision. Jamie highlights their impact, “All of our staff and volunteers dedicate time and money for these kids. Without them this would not be possible.”

The endless hours of planning and late nights of work seem to be paying off for the Florida All-Stars as their network of relationships continues to grow. Add in an aggressive real estate investment, and the program is looking to plant physical roots in Southeast Florida.

Jamie explains, “We are building a facility off Midway Road and I-95 (Fort Pierce). It will house nine NCAA-sized basketball courts, as well as volleyball, soccer, and an ice hockey arena. We aim to complete this by 2027-2028.”

Florida All-Stars are On the Radar

The enthusiasm for the program is piquing heading into 2026. They will return to the OTR circuit this spring.

Jamie had this to say about their experience on the OTR Circuit last year. “On the Radar set the standard for a great tournament experience. There was maximum exposure with highly competitive games. Our players grew by competing at the OTR events. They were prepared coming into their school seasons because of the level of competition they played against.”

Treasure hunters once discovered riches scattered by storms centuries ago on the Treasure Coast. Today, the Florida All-Stars continue the tradition of unearthing hidden talent on the Southeast Florida coastline. Their story proves that what is most valuable is showing up and holding kids accountable on and off the court. They are building a future that is brighter and richer than any gold coin.

Follow the Florida All-Stars journey on Instagram @floridaallstarsboys and get more details on their future building project at https://flallstarssportsplex.com/.

Jonathan Hemingway has been a National Evaluator for On the Radar Hoops since 2013. He has been involved in the basketball community since 1995 as a coach, camp director, and evaluator. You can reach him at CoachHemi@gmail.com and follow him on X @CoachHemi and Instagram @Coach_Hemi.