Vincentian takes up basketball scholarship in Taiwan 

Austin Derrick, a resident of Bequia, left St Vincent and the Grenadines last Sunday, to take up a four-year scholarship at the Chien Hsin University of Science and Technology in Taiwan.

Derrick’s scholarship opportunity was aided by the input of Craiglee Sam, who hails from Bequia, who was a beneficiary of a scholarship and is currently a coach in Taiwan.

Speaking at his departure last Sunday, Derrick said that he was happy for the opportunity, one that he was looking forward to for some time.

Age 21, Derrick, who started playing basketball five years ago, is a centre, having represented Rising Stars of Paget Farm in the Second Division of the Bequia Basketball Association annual tournament, notching up several personal awards for outstanding achievements.  

While his immediate focus is doing well in both his academics and basketball in Taiwan, Derrick said that his ultimate goal “is to make it to the NBA”.

A former student of the Bequia Community High School, Derrick had words of advice to prospective student athletes.

“Focus on the books, as well as the sport, as they both go together,” Derrick advised.

A release from the St Vincent and the Grenadines Basketball Federation’s president Wayne Williams, on Derrick’s scholarship, stated: “The SVG Basketball Federation wishes to thank coach Craiglee Sam, a Vincentian who is coaching in Taiwan, for his ongoing efforts of securing scholarships at universities in Taiwan for Vincentian basketball players”.

Derrick is the second Vincentian player in the last 10 months to join the Chien Hsin University, the first being Brendon Smart.

Smart has had a positive impression on the university’s basketball since joining the fray, helping them to win the National University Championships.