SEA COWS BAY, Tortola, VI --Young Nathan Rodney of Sea Cows Bay, has aspirations of one day becoming an international basketball star.
The 16-year-old Rodney, a fifth form student at Elmore Stoutt High School who hails from Pockwood Pond, currently captains the Real Tool basketball team.
In an exclusive interview with the young player yesterday afternoon August 1, 2012 at the Sea Cows Bay Basketball Court where he was preparing for practice with his team, Rodney said he hopes to earn a scholarship to play college basketball overseas someday after finishing high school.
He noted that he plans to use his success as a basketball player to channel his dreams of also being the owner of a restaurant in the future.
The only child for his parents, who started playing basketball about three years ago, said he fell in love with the sport after watching his childhood idol, Shaquille ONeal play on court. Rodney, who plays the centre position on court just as his idol did, sees himself achieving these goals once he remains focused and sticks to his plans.
Apart from being captain of the senior team and former District Three League captain, Rodney also mentors young players on court during his spare time which he did recently for the summer league.
His coach, Mr. Milton Mclean noted that this was very impressive and was in high praise of Rodneys dedication and passion for the sport.
Asked whether he had any words of encouragement for other youngsters interested in the sport, he responded, Basketball is a very fun sport which requires good conditioning, so if you want to play basketball you have to play hard you have to do your school work.
He noted this was because usually nowadays you cant play any sport, if youre not good with your grades.
Coach Mclean, in his comments about the star player, said the young centre shows very good leadership skills, hes very cooperative and I am very pleased to see how he is developing right now.
Mclean appealed for support for players like Rodney to fuel their dreams and ambitions, acknowledging the contributions already provided by persons like Steve Parillon with his Future Stars Programme, which he said went a considerable distance in affording youngsters to be trained to participate in sports and remain off the streets when not in school.
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Surprises in store for Summer Basketball League 2013! - May 18, 2013
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI The much anticipated BVI Basketball Federations Summer League will get underway with an opening ceremony from 6:30 P.M. in the Multi Purpose Sports Complex on Saturday May 18, 2013.
Whilst staying shy of giving names the BVI Basketball Federation President, Mr Byron Hodge, has baited the Basketball fans in the Territory in stating that all the big names from abroad will be back to play in the league but who they will be playing for will surprise people [read more]
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI The much anticipated BVI Basketball Federations Summer League will get underway with an opening ceremony from 6:30 P.M. in the Multi Purpose Sports Complex on Saturday May 18, 2013.
Whilst staying shy of giving names the BVI Basketball Federation President, Mr Byron Hodge, has baited the Basketball fans in the Territory in stating that all the big names from abroad will be back to play in the league but who they will be playing for will surprise people."
Looking through the rosters, Hodge noted who they played for dont have them now. It looks like teams have been shopping and the players want to see what they can do in bringing teams up to a higher level and of course, everybody wants to beat the Legs!
The Opening ceremony is at 6.30 P.M. and will be followed by a female exhibition game. That game will be followed by Young Starz against And One, before the 2012 defending Champions Legs face the Kings to round out the opening day.
On Sunday, action continues unabated from 5 P.M. with And One playing Fearless, Heats against the Rebels and East facing Game Boys.
Falling short of many peoples hopes that games would be played back in the villages and not just at one central location, Mr. Hodge applauded the efforts of the Recreation Trust in getting the Greenlands Court up to a high standard and commented that all the courts should be in the same condition. I was very impressed with the surface of the court and Im hoping the Recreation Trust can get the rest of the courts around the Territory to the same standard.
However, Hodge did note that because of the amount of matches scheduled to be played in the Summer League and of course because of the other events that take place in the sports complex, that matches would be played on the newly reconditioned gym in Belle Vue and the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duffs Bottom.
There will be games every day of the week except Thursday, stated Hodge.
In an attempt to draw some crowds back to the game, one of the sponsors, Lime, will be doing give-aways, and the concession stand will be open and not only equipped with refreshments but also cable TV so fans can watch the NBA Championships during the games.
There will be a featured game every week that will be covered by television and replayed during the following week and fans will be able to follow regular updates on the Federation's Facebook page.
There will be no teams representing Virgin Gorda this time around, but Hodge quickly dispelled any rumours of a rift between the Summer League and Virgin Gordas Summer Jam. In speaking with Trevor West Stephens he said he was having difficulty in getting a team as most of the VG players are already playing for other teams and it certainly wasnt an intentional move or that the Federation had denied them entry.
With the so far undisclosed new rosters, fans will have to come out and see who is playing for whom but as Hodge concluded, There will be some surprises this year so come out and watch.
University of Sioux Falls mens basketball coach Chris Johnson announced that Daven Ottley signed a national letter of intent Tuesday and will join the Cougars program this fall.Ottley, a 6-foot-8, 235-pound post player from the British Virgin Islands, joins USF after playing two seasons at Sauk Valley Community College (Ill.), where he averaged 15.9 points and 10.2 rebounds a game to lead the Skyhawks to a 21-11 mark last season [read more]
University of Sioux Falls mens basketball coach Chris Johnson announced that Daven Ottley signed a national letter of intent Tuesday and will join the Cougars program this fall.
Ottley, a 6-foot-8, 235-pound post player from the British Virgin Islands, joins USF after playing two seasons at Sauk Valley Community College (Ill.), where he averaged 15.9 points and 10.2 rebounds a game to lead the Skyhawks to a 21-11 mark last season. He earned first-team All-Arrowhead Conference and first-team All-Region IV recognition.
We feel like he will make an immediate impact inside for us, said Johnson. Theres no doubt he can score and rebound, and those are two areas we can always improve in.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI --Following the conclusion of the BD Basketball Championship games last Saturday April 20, 2013, the Association has announced the individual award winners from each age group.Overall, District 2 won the U-16 Division with a 47-41 win against District 5, with the League MVP award going to Romain Minott of the Champions.According to BD Basketball President Brian Bash Brewley, The game was very well played with both sides showing some great talent and a competitive edge [read more]
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI --Following the conclusion of the BD Basketball Championship games last Saturday April 20, 2013, the Association has announced the individual award winners from each age group.
Overall, District 2 won the U-16 Division with a 47-41 win against District 5, with the League MVP award going to Romain Minott of the Champions.
According to BD Basketball President Brian Bash Brewley, The game was very well played with both sides showing some great talent and a competitive edge. The 2nd District were near the bottom last year and now look they are champions. Thats a great reflection on the work of Gertrude Thomas and her crew.
District 2 finished the season unbeaten partially due to Minott, who has refound his hunger and desire to play the game.
Among the individual trophies are the Presidential Sportsmanship Awards, which the President noted are based on the way the players competed in all aspects of the game as well as talent and behavior.
Stephen Caul, playing for District 9, took home the award in the U-16 Division, whilst in the Under 13s, Donaldson Layne of District 8 was the recipient.
District 6 had of course won the U13 Championship with a 31-19 victory against District 5 and Sajwan France was named as overall League MVP. Team awards also went to Michael Richardson Junior of District 3, Rackelle Jack (District 4), Malique Wattley (5), Kyle Penn (8) and DMoi Bradley (9).
In the Under 10s, Elroy Bollers, who was also named League MVP, was the winner of the Presidential Sportsmanship Award and Bash reserved special comment for him. He played with a whole different behavior pattern, he said in previous years he seemed to be less of a team player, but now has become a leader.
The Lakers had won the Championship, 17-15 win against Bollers and the Spurs, but each team in the league had an MVP appointed. For the Lakers it was Tyreice Carrasco, for the Hawks Revaughn Garraway and for the Celtics Sahjani France.
Individuals in the U-16 Division were also recognized for various categories including Most Points, which went to Caul. Neville Smith Junior took home the Most Rebounds Trophy as well as Most Blocks. Minott was awarded the Most Steals and Vedal Penn Most Assists.
In an assessment of the District King League, Brewley felt overall there had been a vast improvement in the players especially in their behavior. The players are much improved and have a much better understanding of the game now, he said. We also enforced the need for the youths to maintain their grade point average, which has worked out well and next year we will raise that requirement to make it an even tougher task and make them realize the importance of education as well as playing sports, he concluded.
One area of continual disappointment for Bash is the lack of support for the kids from their parents. The parents didnt really come out and support, according to Brewley and he hopes parents will get more and more involved as opposed to treating the Tournaments like a day care centre. We need to get the parents out, when they are there its a whole different atmosphere and the youths not only behave better, but play better too. So we need parents to come out for the half hour or hour to support their children and then it becomes a whole different ball game.
The Championship had proven another successful tournament for the BD Basketball Association and even better than last year competition wise. All the game across the age groups were played in great spirit, were very competitive and there is reason to have great faith in the future of the game under the guidance of Bash and his team including Sharlene Hill, Carol Ann, Rhennie, Kennedy and the rest.
Up next is a double elimination tournament once school closes and then the plan is to get the support of the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports to re-launch the Inter High School League as well as hold another Primary School version.
So even after a hectic few months, Bash and his crew are already hard at work planning and have hardly even caught their breath before wanting to bring more and more competition for the future of youth basketball.
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