Lucky Seven Chosen For NBA Elite Competition

By BVI Platinum

Photo: Dean "the Sportsman' Greenaway

Photo: Dean “the Sportsman’ Greenaway

Five boys and two girls have been chosen from among 60 young persons who participated in this year’s Digicel-NBA Jumpstart Programme over the weekend, September 2nd-4th. The lucky seven will represent the British Virgin Islands in the NBA Elite Competition slated for October 7th-9th in the BVI.

The young persons selected are (males) Diorys Joseph, Omar Walker, Demoi Bradley, Kachife Bradshaw, Nixon Hamilton, (females) Shauliqua Fahie and Mahkayle Pickering.

According to Jason Edwin, Digicel’s Brand Ambassador and local basketball coach, those selected where highlighted for their level of skills and understanding for the game.

“They displayed the fundamentals of the game and stood out much more.”

He noted that the game has just begun for the selected few, as the Elite Competition is no easy feat.

“It will be more competition, more intense. The drills will be more rigorous and more concentrated on your skills as an individual and a member of a team. They will see the best young competitors coming from various countries in the region. It will be much more details than what we had.”

The competition will see a total of five boys and two girls from each participating country competing for top spots. The countries are Barbados, Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, BVI, Antigua, Turks and Caicos and Grenada.

According to Edwin, the basketball community in the BVI is looking forward to at least three of the selected to receive basketball scholarships in the United States to further their career.

“This is what it is about; performing to the best of your ability for opportunities.”

At the end of last year’s Elite Competition, two BVI players, Demoi Hodge and Malachi Payne secured basketball scholarships based on their performances. Both have now transferred to US high schools.

“This event is a major platform for young basketballers who want to enhance their skill level and where they have a chance to be recruited by high school and college basketball giants.