Bequia students getting basketball heads-up

An initiative by Isaac Friday and experienced coaches on Bequia, Michael Peniston and Anthony Sargeant, has exposed a number of youths from the two secondary schools, as well as the four primary schools on the island, to the sport of basketball.{{more}}

Dubbed ‘Kids and Basketball Development Programme’, the new sporting programme will last three months in the first instance. It targets youths from age eight to 20 years, and encompasses students from primary school age to the tertiary level, namely, college.

Friday, Peniston and Sargeant are being assisted by Lamont Gordon, Danny George, Kelorn Edwards and Glenroy Charles.

Friday has always shown his support for basketball on the island, having been instrumental in assisting a number of youngsters of Bequia, namely Shawn King, Craiglee Sam and Craig Friday, to obtain basketball scholarships to various parts of the world.

With the trainees being in the development stages, the committee thought it wise to give them their own basketball, so that they can hone their skills. To this end, 25 young prospects were recently presented with their own balls, at a handing-over ceremony, at the Clive Tannis Hard Court.

Friday said the main thrust is to see as many youths as possible obtain scholarships and make it to the NBA; he acknowledged they must also do well in their academic subjects.

He added that the programme will provide preparation and also add quality to the annual Bequia Basketball Association’s Tournament, which gets going in July.

Friday explained that with the assistance of Jerry Simpson, who resides in Long Island, he was able to source 108 balls from Franklyn Sports Inc., a company in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. With the input of O’Brien Simmons, who is the President of the Bequia United Progressive Organisation (BUPO), based in New York, the balls were shipped to Bequia.

According to Michael Peniston, the goal of the programme is to raise the standard of basketball in the country and keep the interest going.

Peniston said it is also a vehicle to teach the children discipline, and to be positive community leaders.