THIS passion for the game and the drive for the sport clearly manifested, the 6ft 10in former NBA player Ajani Williams yesterday earned the top job in basketball when he was elected president of the 50-year-old Jamaica Basketball Association (JABA) at the Alhambra Inn.

Believing in a change in the JABA work culture for a better local brand and professionalism at every level, Williams declared in his manifesto that "change starts at the top, therefore, persons in leadership positions must reflect and inspire change. They must give hope by encouraging their colleagues and other members of the association not to just be great leaders, but also great followers of each other and a common positive purpose. They must be open and transparent about their intentions and plans to help the association develop."

Speaking after the annual general meeting at the Alhambra Inn, the 31-year-old Williams seemed hardly surprised.

"I did the groundwork. I went out to the parishes and sat down with the guys at the various conferences and listened to their needs and ideas of how things should move forward. I also presented my ideas very clearly and it sounded very revolutionary to them and that helped," added Williams, a past student of Calabar High who had stints with Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks, after leaving for Georgia Institute of Technology on an academic scholarship to pursue engineering.

His focus now, he said, was to create "a new identity. We want to shake off the old clothes and put on some new clothes and to get the respect from Jamaicans, not just corporate Jamaica. Brand identity has to come first," he said.



Williams defeated pre-election favourite, former deputy president of the JABA, Captain Clifton Lumsden, who left the scene early for Williams to have his moment.

Born to Sonja and Arthur Williams, himself a former student and player of Calabar High, he developed his basketball under the tutelage of former NBA great Rick Barry and Clifford Ray, currently the assistant coach of the Boston Celtics.

He became known as one of the best power forwards, dominating European and Asian Leagues. Slowed by injuries in the NBA, he retired from the sport and returned to Jamaica and has built a reputation as the consummate professional and
 inspirational leader.

Williams published an autobiography, "How to Become a Pro Basketball Player" and set up a company dealing with information technology, fund management, and now athlete management.

He will use those gifts to run local basketball so that all stakeholders can benefit professionally and financially from the sport.