SHAWNEE, OK – The Potawatomi Fire have signed Jeremiah Gilliam (6-7, F) for The Basketball League’s upcoming 2026 season. Gilliam previously attended the Potawatomi Fire Exposure Showcase in 2024 and 2025.
“Jeremiah is a talented young player, and I’m excited to coach him,” said three-time TBL Coach of the Year Mark Dannhoff. “He’s a versatile threat from all areas of the floor. Beyond that, he’s a physical defender who can effectively guard multiple positions. Jeremiah also brings youth to our squad. Although he’s spent a couple of seasons in TBL, he’s still young and has a lot to learn from our veterans.”
In 2025 with the Little Rock Lightning, Gilliam, a Dallas native, averaged career highs in points (25.8 ppg), rebounds (9.6 rpg), and assists (1.8 apg). He also shot career highs from the field (56.3%), behind the three-point line (54.8%), and the free throw line (75.9%).
“I’m thrilled that Jeremiah is joining the Fire,” said Fire general manager David Qualls. “He’s a great young player that will bring energy to this team and excite the fan base. He does a lot of good things on the court and is great teammate as well. I’m confident he will fit in well with our organization and community.”
This will be Gilliam’s third season in TBL, previously playing for the Little Rock Lightning in 2025 and the Texas 7ers in 2024. Prior to joining TBL, Gilliam played his college basketball at Frank Phillips College and Eastern Oklahoma State College.
The Fire will begin their 2026 TBL season on March 5th against ADS Sentinels. Season tickets and individual tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.
To stay up to date with all the latest news and notes regarding the Potawatomi Fire, follow the team on social media. You can follow the Fire on Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube.
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ABOUT THE POTAWATOMI FIRE
The Potawatomi Fire are the first professional basketball team owned by a Native American tribe (Citizen Potawatomi Nation) in Oklahoma. The Fire compete in the Central Conference of The Basketball League (TBL), a men’s professional basketball league, with roughly 40 teams across the U.S. and Canada. The Fire play their home games at FireLake Arena in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
Through their first four years, the Fire have established themselves as the premier franchise in TBL. Along with winning the TBL championship in 2023, 2024 and 2025, the Fire organization was named the 2022 winner of the Jim Koch Award as TBL’s Best Ran Business. The dance team of the Fire, the Fire Girls, were named TBL’s Best Dance Team in 2022 and 2025. The Fire Girls were also named the Central Conference Best Dance Team in 2023 and 2024.
