"It was a frenzy in the schools as students flocked to see the players and get the chance to interact with them, “ commented Steve Parillon who, along with Karl Scatliffe, has organised the Shootout. Photo: BVI Hoop It Up Foundation

Students of the Bregado Flax Educational Centre gather to meet the visiting players. Photo: BVI Hoop It Up Foundation

During the school visits the teams also got a tour of Virgin Gorda and the opportunity to see the beautiful national park beach "The Baths". Photo: BVI Hoop It Up Foundation

Each of the four teams, Warner University, Northwood University, the University of Puerto Rico Cayey and the University of the Virgin Islands has one more practice session this morning and a “Meet and Greet” to take care of at lunchtime, but then it’s down to the serious business of the Tropical Shootout College Classic, the first of its kind to be held in the Virgin Islands and hosted by the locally owned Future Sports Organisation.

Here for the majority of the week, the teams have been visiting schools although the accent has been very much on two players, Ray Victor and Halstead “JR” Chiverton. The pair of course are well known locally as they both learnt the game playing in local basketball and established themselves as two of the Territory’s best players.

They represent the Warner University Royals and apart from generating great interest in the upcoming Tournament they have also been speaking to school children, both in Tortola and on Virgin Gorda, with the message that being good at basketball is not enough by itself and it is important to maintain high grades to get into a College programme.

Chiverton plays in the number one shirt and so far this season has averaged 17.8 minutes a game coming off the bench in all but one of the Royals (4-1) games. He has hit 17 of 32 field goal attempts, 11 of 25 3’s and 7 of 10 free throws. His total of 52 points is good for third in the team rankings and he has also picked up 22 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 steals. Victor, wearing 23, is one point behind Chiverton having averaged 18 minutes a game. He has made 3 starts, scored 20 of 35 field goals, 3 of 10 3’s ,shot nearly 75% from the free throw line, picked up 25 rebounds, made 12 assists and a team high 11 assists.

Chiverton is a prime example of how basketball and a willingness to learn can be of benefit to any ‘baller and Victor is currently in possession of the highest GPA at Warner. Both players have had great starts to the 2012/13 season and Coach Sean Hanrahan has been quick to praise the two seniors. “What has impressed me the most is their hunger to play the game and their willingness to learn.”

Warner visited the Elmore Stoutt High school, while Northwood University and University of Puerto Rico Cayey made the trip to Virgin Gorda to visit Robinson O'Neal Primary and Bregado Flax Educational Centre.

“It was a frenzy in the schools as students flocked to see the players and get the chance to interact with them,” commented Steve Parillon who, along with Karl Scatliffe,  has organized the Shootout. ”Karl and myself thought what better way for the students too be able to look up to these players as role models and be motivated to pursue their own dreams of a college career than by making these visits.”

During the school visits, the teams also got a tour of Virgin Gorda and the opportunity to see the beautiful national park beach "The Baths". 

Today’s practice sessions are open to the public and the last chance to see the teams pre-game time will be a street prep rally in front of Caribbean Insurance between 12 P.M. and 2 P.M. The Tropical Shootout will then commence with two games tonight, with an opening ceremony at 7 P.M.

Jump ball time is 8 P.M.