The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

SCHEDULES have been released as anticipation builds for the newest initiative in Bahamian high school basketball featuring the best in international and local talent.

The Caribbean Tip-Off Classic, presented by the Bahamas Basketball Federation, Caribbean Sports Travel and the Courtyard Marriott Hotel, will feature teams from the US, Canada, Finland as well as local sides at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium November 2-4.

Steve Barnes, who has served as technical director of the BBF for six years and heads Caribbean Sports Travel, said one of the many appealing factors of the event will be the myriad of Bahamian players featured on the visiting teams.

Brewster Academy (New Hampsire, USA) features Kai Jones, BC Christian Academy (British Colombia, Canada) features Sammy Hunter and Deante Dean, Crestwood College Prep (Ontario, Canada) features Romad Dean and Redemption Christian Academy (New York, USA) features D'Angelo Mackey and Makarious Russell. Other visiting teams include defending national champions Putnam Science Academy (Connecticut, USA), St Thomas Moore (Connecticut, USA), Ridley College Prep (Ontario, Canada), Rise Prep (Ontario, Canada) and Helsinki Basketball Academy (Finland).

Local Bahamian teams will include St George's and Tabernacle Baptist out of Grand Bahama along with Anatol Rodgers, St Augustine's College and CI Gibson.

"It's not about bringing these teams in so everyone can see how good they are. It's important to get the best players playing abroad back home to be seen by their friends and family and the local players get to play and they get seen in front of these dozens of scouts and coaches," Barnes said. "One of the highlights is having the teams from Freeport and from Nassau team up to play against the visiting team, so we really have a situation where we have the best of the best. What we really need is for this to be successful is to have community backing, not only this year but in years to come. This could become a very special deal. People want to come to the Bahamas, we have the people who know how to put it together, I think it can be off the charts good."

Day passes for adults will be available at $10, $5 for children age 12 and under. Tournament passes will be available at $25.

Barnes encouraged all local basketball programmes to take advantage of the opportunity and bring their players out to witness the game played at an elite level and to also see their fellow Bahamian players compete.

"There's a lot of work to be done. It's still in the early stages but we're also gaining ground. There's a huge opportunity right now to brand Bahamas basketball and put it on the world stage. This concept came from just coming down and speaking to the people on the ground. People come in from the outside, make their money and leave but I never saw any local development being done. We thought there really was a place for us here and we could do a lot of different things. Our relationships were built with the people here and we wanted to be able to give back to the community.

"With everything we do, start with a Bahamian base and stay with that philosophy. We have several events planned and it's really important for us to do this first class and do this right," Barnes said. "I want it to become tied in with education and balance what these guys do on the court, with being able to qualify off the court. We can provide the exposure and opportunities, bringing the coaches and scouts down, but you have to do your job in the classroom in preparing. Teams and players are going to learn a lot about themselves. A few guys will do something in this tournament that will land them on somebody's radar."