As his teammates broke the huddle and walked to the locker room after yet another training camp practice, Heat guard Daequan Cook jogged to the ball rack, motioned to an assistant coach and headed to the far end of the court.

Cook had just pushed himself through a grueling, two-hour practice alongside the rest of the Heat's players. But in many ways, the toughest part of his grind was only beginning.

''All I can do is forget about everything else and just focus on what I can control,'' Cook said. ``This year is about me taking it upon myself to do whatever I have to do to get on the court and stay out there.''

Cook is taking those words literally these days. Since the Heat opened camp last weekend, it has been an almost endless -- and relentless -- cycle of basketball for Cook.

He has been one of the first players on the court for morning practice and usually is one of the last to leave after completing an extra shooting workout. Then the pattern continues before and after evening practice.

If this seems to be the act of a desperate man, well, it is. Only a year after Miami acquired him in the first round of the draft, Cook already is fighting for his NBA career -- at least the Heat portion of it.

A poor rookie season followed by a shoulder injury this summer that delayed his offseason development had pushed Cook well behind in his bid to become Miami's long-term solution as a long-range shooter.

Then the Heat's free agency acquisition of three-point threat James Jones and perimeter defender Yakhouba Diawara appeared to drop Cook further down the depth chart. It has left Cook in a precarious position. With the Heat holding the option after this season to extend or void the rest of his rookie contract, Cook is taking nothing for granted.

''You're not guaranteed the next few years, so you're out here fighting to get better,'' said Cook, who then addressed the Heat's additions of Jones and Diawara. ``We're all teammates. But at the same time, you're trying to get a job. That's how I look at it, so it's important to me.''

FOCUS, MATURITY

Cook speaks with the conviction, focus and maturity his teammates and coaches weren't sure he had last season. Cook left Ohio State after one season to enter the NBA.

He showed enough promise to start 19 of 59 games last season and set Heat rookie season records for three-pointers (79) and three-point attempts (238). But there were just as many growing pains. Cook was inconsistent on offense, he struggled to defend and the Heat quickly ended a disastrous attempt to move him temporarily to point guard.

The low point came in February, when Cook was demoted to the NBA's Development League to regain some confidence. He returned a week later -- just in time for the Heat's NBA-worst 15-67 finish. Teammates said the obstacles Cook faces in camp make him better.

''For a guy who didn't play much on a team that was 15-67, he should have a chip on his shoulder to come in and get into the rotation,'' guard Dwyane Wade said. ``He can help a lot with the way he can shoot. But it's not going to come easy. I don't know if it's discouraging, but -- it lets him know to get his butt in gear.''

Cook's gear has been in overdrive in training camp. He was cleared to resume workouts two weeks ago after rehabilitating the dislocated shoulder he sustained in preparation for summer league play in July.

`PRETTY DILIGENT'

''He's been pretty diligent with his work this month,'' first-year coach Erik Spoelstra said. ``He got a taste last year, which helps. He needs to continue to work to get better defensively. I think he'll be fine.''

Despite the adversity of the injury and last year's struggles, Cook has no regrets. According to his practice schedule, there's no time for them.

''It's been tough,'' he said. ``But I can't look back anymore. It's about right now and moving forward.''

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