The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Buddy Hield's tour of community outreach efforts this summer shifted to Grand Bahama with "Dream Week."

Dream Week began July 31 with a two day camp at both the Jack Hayward Gymnasium and Pinedale basketball courts. Following a day off, the action returns to the court today with the inaugural "Buddy Hield Dream Week Basketball Tournament".

Eight teams in Grand Bahama will participate in the single elimination tournament, including reigning national champion St. George's Jaguars, GBHSSA champion Tabernacle Falcons, Sunland Stingers, Eight Mile Rock Bluejays, Mary Star of the Sea Crusaders, Bishop Michael Eldon Warriors, Pine Forest Academy and the hosts, Jack Hayward Wildcats.

Participating teams will directly benefit from their play in the tournament through incentives. The winning team will receive a $5,000 prize and new basketball gear while every team in the tournament will receive $2,500 and new basketball gear.

"God has blessed me and put me in a position where I can help someone, where I can reach out and show someone somewhere that people still care. I'm just trying to do whatever I can to help my people. This is going to be an annual thing every year," Hield said when referencing the inspiration behind the week long schedule of events. "I grew up less fortunate, I know what it's like and now I have it so I can help those in a position I was in. Right now we are just taking it step by step and eventually we can grow to get bigger and better."

The Sacramento Kings guard has hosted several camps during the offseason all dedicated to different stops in his basketball career - in Wichita, Kansas at his former high school, Sunrise Christian Academy; in Norman, Oklahoma where he played collegiately and in New Providence where he hosted a Summer Workshop last week.

"The same way it was done for me as a young kid growing up in Grand Bahama where people came and impacted my life I will be the same way, giving back, showing people we still care and helping the community in some kind of way," Hield said.

Success and Enemies serves as the title sponsor for Dream Week, which culminates in a Hurricane Relief concert on Saturday, August 5, headlined by dancehall reggae artist Popcaan. Proceeds from the event will benefit those impacted by the effects of Hurricane Matthew.

Philcher Grant, director of strategic planning for Success and Enemies, said the organisation's principles aligned closely with Hield, most notably the notion of "making sure you leave the world a better place than when you met it".