The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

AS we draw nearer to the summer months, the Bahamas Basketball Federation is once again preparing to host NCAA programmes for their star-studded series of exhibitions.

The BBF’s “Summer of Thunder” will once again dominate this offseason at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium and several teams have already confirmed their participation and are eagerly marketing the campaign to their respective fanbases.

The Tarleton State Texans is one such programme galvanising their fanbase for the early exhibitions.

The Texans will compete at the Kendal GL Issacs Gymnasium, August 15-19 in addition to practicing and participating in community service activities throughout the trip.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Tarleton fans to travel to the Bahamas and watch our players compete against the top players in their country,” said head coach Lonn Reisman.

“The team will also visit an orphanage in Nassau and learn the importance of giving back to local communities. We hope to have a large crowd make the trip and experience this international tour as a Tarleton family.”

The Texans are coming off their second straight South Central Regional championship and have gone 55-12 the last two seasons.

Tarleton returns six lettermen from last year’s Elite Eight qualifying team and six redshirt freshman in addition to the 2016-17 recruiting class.

Among the returning players are Romond Jenkins, the South Central Regional tournament MVP (7.2 points, 7.7 rebounds), Deshawn Riddick (5.9 points, 2.3 assists), Chantz Chambers (5.8 points), and Nosa Ebomwonyi (3.0 points).

The Summer of Thunder showcase is designed to expose local talent to an international style of basketball, as well as give Bahamian players a chance to compete against some of the best collegiate basketball players the NCAA has to offer.

The exhibition also allows young Bahamian athletes to familiarise themselves with potential tertiary level institutions in which they could possibly attend.

In 2015 there were 14 Division I programmes that participate in the event including: The University of North Florida, Ball State University, Eastern Illinois University, Georgia Tech, Saint Louis University, Southern Utah University, Youngstown State University, University of Central Florida, University of North Dakota, Middle Tennessee St University, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Bethune-Cookman University, West Virginia University and the University of Texas Arlington.

Prior to that event, BBF first vice president and event organiser Mario Bowleg said that the event is growing in recognition and is making a name for itself on the international scene.

“The tournament is only getting bigger and expanding and even though we had 14 teams here, there are more that wanted to participate,” he said.

Local teams notched four wins against visiting teams in last series and another six games were decided by a single possession, three points or less.

“Bahamian teams have been able to hold their own. Many of the final scores have been close,” Bowleg said. “We feel as though the competition is stiff, the foreign teams and the coaches have been pleased that they have been able to face this competition as they prepare for their seasons.”

The full list of Summer of Thunder teams will be published as made available.