BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A number of athletes are expected to take leave from the local basketball league to pursue scholarships in the United States of America after having displayed exceptional talent during the recently concluded ‘Reach One Teach One’ basketball camp.
This disclosure was recently made by the Director of Sports, Dave Connor, who promised to reveal the names of those athletes chosen from among a list of top players in St. Kitts.
Connor told SKNVibes that the Reach One Teach One project had its origin some five years ago through the collaborative efforts of the St. Kitts Basketball Association (SKABA) and the Department of Sports.
He explained it is an initiative that was spearheaded by Beresford Mack, past SKABA President Wendell Pemberton and Connor, which, at its inaugural hosting, brought a number of US coaches, NBA and WNBA players to St. Kitts as facilitators.
Since the inaugural camp, the Reach One Teach One project has been further strengthened with the addition of the Bird Rock Sports Club; an organisation in which its President Wendell Pemberton has been instrumental in sourcing funds, among other contributions.
Organisers of the annual camp have used their resourcefulness and established effective functional relationships with a number of influential persons on the national collegiate circuit in the United States, including Coach Cyril White of To God Be The Glory Sports Organisation, Houston; John Spezia, President of the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association Coaches Association; Jason Speaks, Director of Illinois Basketball Services (IBS) - National Scouting and Recruiting; and Dr. Mark Robinson, President Vice Chancellor of Student Development, San Francisco Community College.
These individuals continue to devote their time, talent and expertise, not only to the success of the camp over the years, but to the growth and development, educational and personal advancement of local athletes who are being provided the opportunity to use sports as an avenue for educational and personal advancement.
Connor emphasised, “The Reach One Teach One programme is not only about talent on the court. Of equal importance is the inculcation of discipline, a sense of purpose, commitment and the will to triumph over obstacles. This is the underpinning of the project.”
Connor is confident that, like those athletes who are currently in the US, those granted scholarship and are slated to leave this semester, are endowed with the fortitude to successfully confront and overcome the challenges that lie ahead.
