By LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter
Minto
IN SEPTEMBER of this year, Jason Francis and Hugh Robinson will become the 34th and 35th recipients of a basketball scholarship to a tertiary institution through the altruistic efforts of Michael Minto.
Jamaica-born Minto, who himself earned a basketball scholarship, made a pact on receiving his scholarship to provide the same opportunities for talented youths back home.
By all estimations, Minto's word has been his bond as he has assisted 35 youths to secure free tertiary education through basketball scholarships since 1995.
Francis and Robinson will enrol at South East Illinois Community College for the fall semester.
BABY SHAQ
Francis a 6' 5" 18 year-old forward that can best be described as 'Baby Shaq', led Old Harbour High to the Central Conference final of the ISSA/KFC High Schools Competition. Although Old Harbour lost to Manchester High in the best-of-three series, Francis proved to be almost unstoppable in the paint as he bumped and bruised his defenders to a pulp.
Robinson represents Buckfield United of Ocho Rios in the KFC/Cable & Wireless National Basketball League (NBL) where he leads the league in blocks, averaging three per game. The 20 year old 6' 7" forward also averages 21 points and 12 rebounds per game.
Francis and Robinson are beneficiaries of a promise Minto made upon receiving his basketball scholarship for Central State University, Ohio, US in 1985.
Dave 'Long John' Johnson helped to secure a scholarship for Minto under the condition that he help provide the same opportunity for youths in Jamaica.
After two years at Central State University, Minto transferred to Cedarville University where he holds the school's record in field goal percentage (62 per cent) and blocked shots (80) in a single season and was selected to the NCAA 2nd Team All-American.
He grew up in Whitfield Town with Marland Nattie, who is now the president of the Jamaica Basketball Association (JaBA). He attended St. Andrew Tech-nical High where he represented the school in basketball and track and field. Minto continued to hone his skills after graduating from high school in 1980 and was called to the national team to represent Jamaica at the CARICOM Games in 1984 and later in 1986, 1988 and the gold-medal winning team in 1996.
As a professional, Minto had his best performance in 1994 with the Academico De Porto basketball team in Porto, Portugal. He averaged an impressive 26 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks.
PLAYING DAYS WINDING DOWN
With his playing days winding down, Minto started to make good on his promise.
He and Nattie started identifying youngsters for scholarships and in 1995 Richard Polack and Linton Ellis became the first two scholarship recipients and enrolled in Minto's alma mater, Cedarville University.
Since 1995, a number of student athletes have followed suit including Mugabe Thomas of Cedarville University and 2002-03 American Mideast Conference South Division Freshman of the Year, Sean Plummer, University of Rio Grande, Ohio and Damon Staple of Iowa State.
Minto is also instrumental in securing college coaches for the JaBA's annual Star Search Camp held at the G.C. Foster College in June and is a member of the Association's Overseas Operations.
