The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE BC Christian Prep Panthers basketball programme is establishing itself as a pipeline for Bahamian talent and will add another pair of local student-athletes.

Joshua Dames and Bradley Lightbourne will become the latest Bahamians to join the Panthers prep programme at the institution in British Columbia, Canada, next fall.

Dames, the former Tabernacle Baptist Falcon and junior national team standout, said he plans to continue his progression and skill development at the prep school level.

“It was just me thinking about doing what was best for me. Expect a young man that is going to be a leader, has become more skilled in every aspect of the game and that is very unselfish. I take shots when I need to take them but I love getting my teammates involved and my goal will be trying to lead the Lions to a prep school national championship.”

According to Dames, having Lightbourne join him next season at BC Prep will make for a more manageable transition.

“[BC Prep] would be a great fit for me knowing that I have top-notch Bahamian players in the country like Bradley joining me there so it’ll make my transition easier,” he said. “It would also be a cultural benefit because I can talk like myself and be myself so it will make things more fun and help the transition be more smooth.”

Both players were All-Tournament selections at the 2019 National High School Basketball Championships.

Lightbourne finished as the tournament’s leading scorer at 23.2 points per game and also led the tournament in several other statistical categories, including steals per game (4.2), free throws made (44) and defensive rebounds per game (6.6). He was also an All-Defensive team selection. “While others were partying and drinking I was working on my game, constantly working and getting up shots,” Lightbourne said. “The decision wasn’t hard but it took a while for [my family and me] to make a decision because other schools were giving me offers.”

BC Prep last played in the Bahamas last November at the inaugural Caribbean Tip-Off Classic.

Panthers head coach Doug Dowell said the programme is excited on what the new additions can bring in the upcoming season. “I wanted to have Joshua with us this past year. He would have been a missing piece for our squad. I believe with hard work Joshua could go somewhere. He will be challenged this year and that will force him to get better. With a really good point guard his game will really grow,” Dowell said.

“Bradley has a huge upside and I believe the competition and environment will really help him. He seems to be the perfect fit for this programme and hopefully, his adjustment period will be short and he will be able to perform right away. The future is bright in the Bahamas.”

Fellow Bahamian Deante Dean is currently a member of the Panthers programme but the school’s recruitment of Bahamians has been highlighted by Sammy Hunter.

Hunter recently finished his tenure at BC Prep and will head to the Ole Miss Rebels men’s basketball programme this fall.

“The Bahamians are a great fit for our programme as we are a Christian school and programme so most of the kids from Nassau and Freeport already have that foundation coming in. So the biggest challenge has been the distance and my ability to get there to watch them live.

“The other issue we have found, as have other schools, is that the kids from the Bahamas academically are behind. They are smart kids but the curriculum in the Bahamas in certain subjects is not up to our standard. The boys have to go back and upgrade to get up to speed.

“Especially in math and science. Once they are up to speed they are good,” Dowell said. “I believe the biggest thing that helps these boys is the competitive environment they are in. The acceptance of nothing less than excellence forces them to improve their game in order to play. We are really hard on the guys about their understanding of how the game is played and how to take advantage of defensive mistakes and weaknesses. They become more efficient and learn to play the game more effectively, not just depending on their athleticism.

“Sammy was a good example of this. He was a much different player when he first came and the other players here demanded excellence from him. No laziness or lack of discipline. They made him step up and that made it easier for us to work the issues out. He and my son Keenan were ball screen and roll partners very often and Keenan really held Sammy accountable.”

In his final season for the Panthers, Hunter averaged 27 points, eight rebounds and three assists per game.

Dowell and both new additions to the Panthers said Hunter played a positive role in their recruitment process.

“Sammy, as you know, has been a tremendous project for us and he is a tremendous young man. He has really grown, matured and developed since being here. The fact that people see that growth and improvement bodes well for us with all the boys from home,” he said. “Sammy really values the Bahamas and the national programme there so he is a great advocate for us and them alike,” Lightbourne said. “He told me they are going to work me hard but just be ready to put in work.”

Dames added: “Me and Sammy talk often and he was the first person I messaged when I was interested in going to BC Prep after they offered me. He said it was a great school where I could develop as a player and as a Christian. He also said the school and coaching staff would have my best interests at heart so I really couldn’t say no to the offer.”

BC Christian Prep is a club programme that is designed to have the top players from BC, Canada and around the world come to one destination and train daily with each other so that they can glean from the competitive atmosphere and become better players. BC Christian Prep also provides top-level Canadian and American game schedules that will enhance the exposure of our players to top CIS, NAIA, NJCCA, and NCAA programmes.