Hoop it Up Foundation sends Fifteen for training to USA
Speaking in an exclusive interview with this news site on September 2, 2012, Coach Parillon said that through its Virgin Islands showcase camp, the organisation was able to send away fifteen youth basketball players from the British and US Virgin Islands to America.
He explained that the camp is organised so that “coaches come in to try to recruit young talent. They see somebody that they are interested in then they offer them a scholarship to try to get them to America to play basketball and go to school.”
He noted that the camp was designed for persons between the ages of 16-21 years and disclosed that this year, thirteen boys and 2 girls were sent abroad.
Some, he told this news site, had already left while a few others are waiting to leave shortly. He added that this brought the total to twenty-two over the last two years after 7 persons had been sent last year.
When asked how persons were able to get into the various programmes offered by the Hoop it Up Foundation, Parillon said, “The books and basketball [programme] is an open camp, so it is open to [public and private school] kids.” He also disclosed that the Easter camp, summer hoops and Christmas hoops programmes are also all open to kids as well.
He disclosed however, that the Virgin Islands showcase camp is ideally for “kids who are ready to go off to school,” which meant that it was almost open but on more of a “recruitment basis”.
Coach Parillon disclosed that this coming Saturday a shooting star academy will be started, which contains more full time basketball training and is based on a selection and recruitment basis as well. He added that there are a limited number of places for those interested.
The future stars programme prepares young basketball players to be future basketball players allowing persons to participate in the programme then perhaps go to the showcase camp and someday go off to play basketball in the US.
Through the Hoop it Up Foundation, youths have been able to get full and partial scholarships based on the amount of athletic scholarship finances available to a particular college.
“The opportunity to be a part of an institution, to represent an institution while getting an education is an experience that is priceless,” he felt.
“I think what we’re trying to do as far as getting the young people off the island and off the streets… is something great,” he added.
He considered that since there is no local avenue for recruitment here and no scouts coming regularly, the showcase camp seeks to create “something that can go a long way.”
Parillon also revealed that their Future Stars programme allows both high school undergrad and post grad students to have training and also allows dropouts to participate by getting involved in educational programmes while getting basketball training.
The Hoop it Up foundation also has Karl Scatliffe, a former Olympian, on hand to provide strengthening and conditioning while Parillon focuses predominantly on coaching training and does the majority of scouting for the group.
“I’m here now to give all my knowledge,” Steve disclosed, “I have a lot to give… I have more to give right now to our youths.”
He explained that the foundation also works with special needs kids and assists with donations of basketball equipment as well from time to time.
Parillon felt that “our time on this earth is so short, so yes; I’m very aggressive in what I’m doing right now and to me… I’ve been getting good feedback.”
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12 Responses to “Hoop it Up Foundation sends Fifteen for training to USA”
Let all the HATERS from Lower Estate and Huntum's Ghut put this in their pipe and smoke it!
Get over it, Steve left Young Legs years ago and you all still can't get over it ? Shame on you all !!
Good job Steve! Keep up the good work. Keep beig a role model and giving back to the community!!!!