L.I. Nets to practice in North Hempstead

Stephen Romano

Basketball is coming to North Hempstead.

The North Hempstead Town Council on Tuesday adopted a resolution permitting the Long Island Nets to practice at a town facility.

The team, the minor league affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets, will begin practicing in October at the “Yes We Can” Community Center in New Cassel.

“This is a very nice agreement we have with the Long Island Nets,” Councilwoman Viviana Russell said. “I’m happy we were able to make an agreement.”

The team paid a $22,000 licensing fee.

The Long Island Nets, who play in the Gatorade League, formerly the Developmental League, will play their 2017-18 season in the newly renovated Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The Nets will practice at the town facility from Oct. 23 through April 13, 2018, for two hours a day, five days a week

The facility will also be open to visiting teams for two hours, one day a week for practice sessions.

The team is giving the town exercise equipment for the facility, as well as commercial washers and dryers and 420 tickets and bus transportation for games at the Coliseum for participants in the town’s summer activities program.

During the 2016-17 season, the Nets had a 17-33 record, finishing fifth in the Atlantic Division.

Share this Article