"We're here for the kids and to help their experience," Ward said."When I was in high school, I didn't understand how much the square backboard cost, or the breakaway rim, or the three-point line. I was looking at the experience. Most of our kids might not go to college to play basketball, but what they can have is a college experience... an NBA experience."
Board member Chris Patricca, who serves as a school board member in Lee County, was the first to raise financial concerns after prefacing that she's in favor of the change. With finances being the main concern, Ward offered that sponsorships could try to be obtained by schools to help fund the implementation. However, other board members, who represent areas across the state, argued that sponsorships aren't always easy to come by.
Caporale added that he felt the concerns of the Miami-area schools were not properly represented back in February.