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UPDATE: 7 chosen to attend Digicel NBA Elite Camp

- selected includes 5 boys & 2 girls
The five boys named are: Diorys Joseph, Omar Walker, Demoi Bradley, Kachife Bradshaw and Nixon Hamilton. The two girls chosen are Mahkayla Pickering and Shaliqua Fahie. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Best Sportsman, Raheem Hodge (left) and Best Sportswoman, Keithrece Smith. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Best Sportsman, Raheem Hodge (left) and Best Sportswoman, Keithrece Smith. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Hot Shot Champions, Kachife Bradshaw and Shaliqua Fahie. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Hot Shot Champions, Kachife Bradshaw and Shaliqua Fahie. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Free Throw Champions; Kachife Bradshaw and Chakia Smith. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Free Throw Champions; Kachife Bradshaw and Chakia Smith. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Two of the female players participating in the Digicel NBA Jumpstart Clinic on September 3, 2016. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Two of the female players participating in the Digicel NBA Jumpstart Clinic on September 3, 2016. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Senior Director-Basketball Operations International at NBA and NBA Certified Coach, Troy Justice take the players through their drills on September 3, 2016. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Senior Director-Basketball Operations International at NBA and NBA Certified Coach, Troy Justice take the players through their drills on September 3, 2016. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Showing their cheer-leading skills. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
Showing their cheer-leading skills. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – After three days of high energy, insane intensity, sweat and tears, close to 60 boys and girls sat drained on Sunday September 4, 2016, anxiously awaiting to learn who had been selected from the Digicel NBA Jump Start Clinic to move on to the Elite Camp.

Senior Director of International Basketball for the NBA, Troy Justice, was pleased with the overall performance from the players and thought the final selections were great

“I think the five boys and two girls will compete very well against the players from the other countries. They worked very hard, are hardnosed and tough, they are competitors and fighters, it will be fun for them especially as the BVI is hosting the Elite Camp and their Family and Friends will come out to support them.”

The five boys named are: Diorys Joseph, Omar Walker, Demoi Bradley, Kachife Bradshaw and Nixon Hamilton.

“I’m very happy and I worked Hard,” noted Walker.

“I was surprised,” commented Hamilton. “I thought there were better players than me out there, but I’m going to give it 110%.”

Pickering & Fahie get the nod

The two girls chosen were Mahkayla Pickering and Shaliqua Fahie

“I feel good, great and awesome,” said Pickering. “A lot of hard work, but it payed off and now I will work even harder for what I want.”

Fahie stated she was surprised. “I dint have confidence in myself, but now I’m going to do better and make it to the next round again.”

Digicel Basketball Ambassador, Jason A. Edwin concurred with the choices. “Basically the ones selected were the stand outs. They showed perseverance, were willing to learn and also showed good skills and I’m not surprised they were chosen.”

Justice also had some word s of encouragement for all the participants. “They all learnt some new stuff and they all got better from day one to day three. It was really exciting to see the light bulbs go off in two or three of them and that augers well for the future. The coaches were also really good, they worked hard, were engaged, taught some good stuff and they will be able to mentor the kids throughout the year to grow the game here.”

Other awards

Other awards were given to the Free Throw Champions; Bradshaw and Chakia Smith; Hot Shot Champions, Bradshaw and Fahie; Best Sportsman, Raheem Hodge and Best Sportswoman, Keithrece Smith.

The top 7 players from each participating island will be selected to attend the Digicel NBA Jumpstart Elite Camp in the [British] Virgin Islands from October 7–9, 2016.

Digicel NBA Jumpstart Basketball Clinics are run by NBA International Basketball Operations’ staff and 6 assistant NBA coaches will be on hand to provide instructions in both player and coaching development.

See previous article published September 4, 2016

Shoot for the moon & reach the stars- Troy Justice

At around twelve noon today, Sunday September 4, 2016, five boys and two girls will be experiencing the elation of knowing they have been selected to attend the Digicel/NBA Elite Training Camp to be held here in October.

Almost 40 boys and 20 girls began the odyssey of gaining the right to be amongst the best young prospects for basketball in the Territory on Friday September 2, 2016, under the watchful gaze of Senior Director-Basketball Operations International at NBA Troy Justice and Digicel Basketball Ambassador, Jason A. Edwin, as well as other local coaches.

The first day had opened all the participants’ eyes to the expected levels of performance and the strict pillars of discipline, team work, skill and coachability required to make it to the next level.

The warm ups each day have drained the fitness, but not the spirit of all the attendees, as the tests on their basic ball handling and shooting skills were embraced by all.

‘Shoot for the moon’

“When it comes to basketball, you need to be focused, locked in and relaxed, not angry, not overly serious,” extolled Justice. “When you wake up you have two choices, one [to] be in the frame of mind to do nothing, the other to be ready to be productive, make something happen and it’s your choice.”

Justice further challenged the payers to succeed and look to the stars, shooting for the moon and go for it.

“If you want to play for the WNBA, go for it, if you want to make the NBA, then go for it.”

Day two focused on NBA combined style fitness drills, including vertical take-off ability, three quarter court speed, dribbling coordination, agility and more shooting from around the paint as well as game play and passing awareness to make “your team mates better players.”

Today’s final session will begin with more team games and then culminate with the awards presentation and the announcement of those lucky seven who will go forward to the Elite Camp.

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