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June 19, 2007
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NCAA
Certifies Star Search Camp
The American-based National Collegiate
Athletic Association (NCAA) has certified Jamaica's
annual Star Search and Life Skills Development
Basketball Camp, clearing the way for Division One
coaches to attend the camp and recruit prospective
players. Previously oversees Division One coaches were
barred from attending the camp due to NCAA restrictions.
"This is a significant achievement. We have come a long
way with still a lot of road to travel, but we are proud
of how far our collective efforts have taken us in order
to serve our youth," commented Gary Henry, president of
the Jamaica Basketball Development (JBD) Inc., a
not-for-profit organization that applied for the
certification. [Read
Official Letter from the NCAA here]
While the Division One coaches, who include Tom Izzo of
Michigan State, Billy Donovan of Florida, Mike Krzyzewski of Duke University,
Bob Knight of Texas Tech.
and Rick Pittino of University of Louisville, can attend
the camp - they will not be allowed to interact with the
players. However, they can speak with their parents and
their local coaches.
Public relations officer for the JBD Inc., Leonard Whyte,
said there were two main reasons for applying for
certification. "One is so they (coaches) can observe the
kids and the other is to use them in our coaching
clinics to work with local coaches," said Whyte.
He also added that the rapid improvement and prominence
of Samardo Samuels, a past student of Muschett High in
Trelawny and who is ranked number one among 2008 high
school graduates in the US, drew some attention to the
camp.
The Star Search camp, in its seventh year, will run from
July 9-13 at G. C. Foster College. The camp not only
focuses on developing youths with excellent basketball
skills, but individuals with excellent characters as
well. Registration takes place on July 8 at 6:00 p.m. at
G.C. Foster College.
This year the JBD Inc. and the Jamaica Amateur
Basketball Association (JABA) will visit Ocho Rios
Primary and St. Ann's Bay Primary schools on July 11 to
introduce their new "Kids First" Programme. In this
programme, officers from JBD, Inc., JABA, as well as
overseas-based student-athletes, will read with the
students and stress the importance of academics. Books
and school supplies will also be presented to both
schools.
Over the past six years, more than 60 Jamaican youths
have received scholarships to US colleges and high
schools as a result of the Star Search camp.
Expected to be in attendance this year are former Star
Search attendees Mugabe Thomas, Damion Staples,
Daniel
Rose, Ricardo Alliman, Jason Francis,
Rodney James and Andrei Grant.
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