Antigua breeding future stars
After an absence of over seven years in Antigua/Barbuda, a plan to resurrect the Future Stars basketball program was initiated.
The Antigua/Barbuda Basketball Association, as part of its plans to promote the sport of basketball throughout the island and increase the level of skills of the island’s youth, received a jump-start to end off 2011 with a successful Future Stars Basketball Camp.
Although ABBA started the Camp, under local coach, Craig Anthony on December 12, it was the further collaboration with the
Ministry of Sports that gave greater recognition and support to the initiative.
This was made possible by behind the scenes USA basketball official Darryl Lamps and former Sports & Games Director and host of the program in 2003, Mr. Fitzroy Brann. Contact was made with basketball coach and consultant, Jim Anderson of Marion, Iowa, who had brought to an Antigua a number of coaches associated with the Future Stars recruiting camp, in the past.
Jim Anderson is now the Executive Director of Y.O.U.R. World Youth, a program geared to education, fitness and nutrition, and has a wealth of contacts within basketball and sporting circles. Anderson has been responsible for the recruitment of some of Antigua’s talented boys and girls, including Kurt Looby, to schools throughout the USA.
While in Antigua, besides obtaining information on a number of talented prospects, Anderson was able to meet with Minister of Sports, Sen.Winston Williams and the Hon. Prime Minister, Dr. Baldwin Spencer. Discussions centered around the refurbishing of the JSC Sports Complex or the construction of a new facility with wooden floors, if Antigua/Barbuda is to advanced to a higher level, in terms of more and better competition and the enhancement of the Sports Tourism Program.
Airfare for Anderson’s visit to Antigua was made possible through the National Olympic Committee and accommodation was provided, compliments the Jolly Beach Resort.
The Camp was run by the coaches of the Ministry of Sports during the last week of December 2011. More than 50 youth participated.
