More than 300 Cayman Islands basketball players got a taste of the big leagues when a team of coaches from the NBA visited the islands earlier this month.
Youngsters competed in a 3-on-3 tournament and were put through their paces in a series of skills drills and clinics during the week-long camp.
In a new twist on the growing collaboration between the Dart group and the junior NBA, the activities included a special focus on getting girls into the game.
The ‘Her Time to Play’ clinic was one of the most well-attended sessions of the camp with more than 60 girls showing up. There was also a clinic for some of Cayman’s Special Olympics athletes.
The sessions, at the Camana Bay sports complex, also served to whet appetites for this week’s Cayman Classic, featuring some of the top college teams from the US at John Gray High School. The tournament features a mens and women’s bracket.
Teamwork and respect
The Junior NBA and WNBA camp, from 13-17 November, featured a slate of diverse and inclusive activities to immerse players of all experience levels in the sport, learning the importance of teamwork, respect and determination.
The week tipped off with a skills clinic for Special Olympics Cayman Islands with athletes, coaches and volunteers, taking part in drills, competitions and coaching.
Scenes from the NBA clinic. – Photos: Supplied
Promising young talent invited by the Cayman Islands Basketball Association polished their abilities, leadership and decision-making in a skills challenge before the week culminated in a 3 X 3 tournament with government schools from both Grand Cayman and the Brac, along with private and home school students.
Each team was assigned to an NBA team and received corresponding NBA team-branded jerseys. John Gray High School won the Boys U14 and U16 tournaments with CIS finishing as runners up both times.
After the ‘Her Time To Play’ initiative, the participants wrote how they were feeling on sticky notes, with comments including ‘fierce’, ’empowered’, ‘determined/ and ‘committed’. – Photo: Supplied
A new initiative at this year’s event was ‘Her Time to Play”, which saw over 60 girls aged 10-17 participate. The initiative is dedicated to providing girls with ways to connect, collaborate and actively engage in the sport.
“Dart is especially excited to introduce the Jr. WNBA’s Her Time to Play to Cayman,” said Jackie Doak, director of Dart Media and Entertainment in a press release.
“With the explosive popularity of the WNBA among fans and global investors and the league’s historic class of rookie players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese inspiring young girls to see themselves as leaders on and off the court, this initiative champions the kind of lasting change Dart has supported through youth sports for decades,” Doak added.
The week-long camp is made possible through a multi-year collaboration between Dart and the NBA, something Mark VanDevelde, Dart executive director and CEO, said will benefit the next generation of athletes coming through Cayman.
“With the support of our founder Ken Dart, we are able to bring the transformative power of the NBA, one of the world’s most globally revered sports leagues, to the young people of the Cayman Islands,” VanDevelde said. “The NBA encourages confidence, resilience and joy in our youth, vital components in building a bright and prosperous future.”
Marc Pulles, NBA Latin America’s basketball and business operations head, added, “The dedication from young athletes, families, and local supporters exemplifies the power of sport to unite and inspire. We’re proud to bring the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA experience to the Cayman Islands, fostering future stars and building a legacy of teamwork, resilience, and opportunity.”
Editor’s Note: The Cayman Compass is a subsidiary of Dart Media and Entertainment.
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Publish date : 2024-11-25 16:00:00
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