Top 5 — Devin Vassell Brings NBA Energy to Jamaican Youth
PLUS: Fraser-Pryce says farewell, Borussia Dortmund expands to Trinidad, and more
Whatsup Squad,
Here are the stories making waves in Caribbean sports this week:
⭐️ FEATURE STORY
Devin Vassell Brings NBA Energy to Jamaican Youth
Aspiring basketball players in Western Jamaica got a chance to rub shoulders with rising NBA star Devin Vassell of the San Antonio Spurs.
The 24-year-old shooting guard, whose father is Jamaican, shared his skills in a much-anticipated clinic at Herbert Morrison High School in Montego Bay.
The event was spearheaded by the Jamaica Basketball Association and saw Vassell donating gear and speaking to the participating athletes and schools.
Bottom Line — Devin Vassell’s visit is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the development of basketball in Western Jamaica and rekindle interest in the sport among young players. It also follows similar initiatives to connect NBA players to their Jamaican roots.
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🇯🇲 Jamaica
Fraser-Pryce Says Farewell as New Sprint Stars Shine
Held at Kingston’s National Stadium, the Jamaica Athletics Championships were headlined by Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s final race on Jamaican soil.
Fraser-Pryce placed third, behind newly crowned Jamaican national champion Tina Clayton and runner-up Shericka Jackson, earning a spot in her ninth World Athletics Championship.
Not to be outdone, Kishane Thompson ran a 9.75s personal best (and world lead) to move up to sixth on the all-time men’s 100m list.
His performance was the fastest men’s 100m in over a decade.
Bottom Line — Although Fraser-Pryce will be retiring after the World Championships in Tokyo, Jamaican sprinting is still in great hands. With the 23-year-old Thompson and 20-year-old Clayton, the best is yet to come for Jamaica’s 100m national champions.
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🇧🇸 The Bahamas
VJ Edgecombe Goes Top 3 in NBA Draft
Valdez “VJ” Edgecombe Jr., a Bimini, Bahamas native, was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the third overall pick in the NBA Draft.
He becomes just the seventh player from the Bahamas to play in the NBA.
Edgecombe came to the United States to play basketball, first in Florida as a ninth-grader, then in New York, where he blossomed into a five-star recruit.
During his one year at Baylor University, he earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors along with second-team All-Big 12.
With his NIL earnings, he launched a scholarship to support three students at his alma mater in Bimini.
Bottom Line — Edgecombe starred alongside Deandre Ayton and Buddy Hield for The Bahamas at the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. His draft selection signals a bright future for Bahamian basketball and for Bimini.
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🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago
Borussia Dortmund to Launch Academy in Trinidad
Leading German football club Borussia Dortmund (BVB) will officially launch the BVB International Academy - Caribbean (BVBIA - Caribbean) in Trinidad this July.
The academy will adopt BVB’s training methodology, which is renowned for producing world-class footballers such as Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, and Marco Reus.
The initiative is being spearheaded by the sporting firm Athletes and Fans Sports Village.
Bottom Line — While Trinidad will be the base for the flagship Academy, Barbados, Guyana, and Jamaica are among the Caribbean countries earmarked for BVBIA – Caribbean expansion.
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🇯🇲 Jamaica
Jamaica Basketball Pushes for World-Class Facility
Paulton Gordon, president of the Jamaica Basketball Association (JaBA), is renewing his call for the urgent construction of a world-class basketball facility in Jamaica.
NBA players want to come to Jamaica (and some already do), but the absence of an adequate training environment limits the potential for long-term partnerships or recurring trips.
Gordon sees Montego Bay and Trelawny as ideal locations for a stand-alone NBA-standard indoor facility, citing both the existing tourism infrastructure and proximity to high-end accommodations.
Bottom Line — A world-class basketball facility could transform the island into a hub for sports tourism and elite athlete development. The proposed facility would not only appeal to high-profile athletes but also attract American travel teams and academies interested in conducting clinics, camps, and tournaments on the island.
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Until next time ✌🏾
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