BVI Basketballers heading for new heights after the conclusion of the 2nd Annual Hoop It Up Foundation VI Showcase.

Sheldeen Joseph made a huge impression on the Coaches during te Camp and Showcase and all being well will be heading off to the States to earn a Degree and play Basketball.

Coach Quinn, Coach Ryhmes, Coach Kennedy and Coach Redmond (from right to left) were all greatly impressed by the Talent "mined" by Steve Parillon's Hoop It Up Foundation.

Over 50 boys and girls from both the United States Virgin Islands and the Virgin Islands attended not only the Showcase Finale, but also the week- long preparation camp which was also attended by Coach Quinn from Oklahoma Seminole State, Coach Joe Redmond also from the Oklahoma area, Coach Sam Rhymes from the Rise Academy and Coach Kennedy from North Carolina.

As President of the Hoop It Up Foundation, Steve Parillon, commented, “This is the most we have ever had at the camp.”

The showcase was split into a skill segment and then two games, one for the High School age group and one for Junior College.

Parillon also said that although there wasn’t a barrage of coaches at the showcase, he had a full inbox of emails from coaches looking for players.

Coach Quinn ran a 3 on 2 on 1 session which looked to identify ability to pass and decision making in a game situation.

“I’ve seen a few that can play at junior college level,” he said. “We will have to develop their skill level a little bit, but for sure I’ve some who are of interest and can play.”

Coach Redmond took care of individual ball skills. “On the high end there were a few I was really impressed with. Some of the guys who showed good promise are only 14 or 15, so they have a couple years to keep improving but are already at a good level.”

All the coaches agreed that some of the players could definitely play college ball, but it will come down to how hard they are willing to work.

“If they get more strength, drill hard and continue to develop then they could definitely play low to mid major division,” concluded Redmond.

Redmond also had special praise for one of the girls at the Showcase, Sheldeen Joseph. “She had a fantastic work ethic,” he said. “She’s real impressive. If she was in the States she would have several opportunities to play as a guard with her athletic ability, strength and her mindset. I’ve seen her in camp all week and we are going to do our very best to get her a placement where she can earn a degree and play basketball.”

Coach Rhymes took a shooting and moving drill and was impressed with the forms he saw and also the athletic and shooting ability.

“There is definitely more than one or two I’m interested in,” he commented. “They have the ability and also the basketball IQ to succeed.”

Coach Kennedy who took the Post Drill, which is what he described as the “sweet science” of the game, said, “Its basics like dance moves, you don’t have to be the biggest, but need footwork and the ability to get all parts of your body in alignment.”

He too was impressed with the talent on show. “The BVI definitely has a lot of talent. Obviously they have a great desire to play the game at a higher level. The Foundation has been doing great work to mine that talent and the enthusiasm is amazing. There are definitely some guys who can play at College level or higher.”

For those players who don’t make it, there is plenty of more opportunity with ongoing programmes such as the Future Stars camp and Word and Ball run by Keith “88” Malone and Coach Mike. The Minister Responsible for Sport, Myron Walwyn has also sat down with all the Heads on the various programmes to see how they can best come together to dovetail their efforts and chart the best way forward for the development of the young players.