Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
PREACHING THE message of achievement through discipline, hard work and self-belief, the Jeff Rodgers Basketball Camp, now in its second year, will come to a close with a National Basketball League (NBL) versus former NBA All-Stars exhibition game at the National Indoor Sports Centre (NISC) today.
Tip off time for the clash will be 6:00 p.m. and the event will feature the likes of Felton Spencer, formerly of the Golden State Warriors, Scott Burrell (Charlotte Hornets), Travis Knight (LA Lakers) and former New York Knick turned ESPN analyst Gregg Anthony.
Life lessons
However, the event itself will mark the end of a week in which some of the nation's inner-city children got a shot at not only learning the game of basketball, but some valuable life lessons as well.
The camp began in Arnett Gardens where hundreds turned out to enjoy the drills and exercises. It then moved to Tivoli, to Waterhouse and then G.C. Foster College, which paid attention to the more talented individuals in the crop.
While the camp taught the fundamentals of basketball, far more important lessons were there to be learned for the hundreds of children of all ages who took part in the five-day event.
In addition to the basketball, tonight's game will also consist
of a half-time show which will
feature artistes Tanto Metro
& Devonte, TOK and Q. An announcement will also be made regarding four youngsters who will be awarded scholarships to schools in Connecticut and Washington.
Squads
NBL squad:
Lancelot Grandison (Urban Knights), Khali McCarthy (St. George's Slayers), Linton Murray (Urban Knights), Michael Jackson (St. George's Slayers), Desmond Harriott (Blazing Panthers), Damion Gardner (Urban Knights), Anthony Farquharson (Denham Town Wizards), Damion Young (Tivoli All Stars), Duken Brown (Tivoli All Stars), Dwayne Goulbourne (St. George's Slayers), Feutardo Clarke (Jamaica Defence Force), Andree Wilson (St. George's Slayers).
Jeff Rodgers squad:
Taige Adderley (Roane State Community College), Harrison Moxley (C.C. Sweeting, Bahamas), Darren Darville (Columbia Union College, Washington, DC), Kramer Taylor (Columbia Union College, Washington, DC), Javari Southard (St. John's University, MN), Marcellus Hall (Cal State Bakersfield, CA), Garth Bethel (University District of Columbia, Washington, DC), Vince Murphy (Takoma Academy, played in China), Mac Wilkinson, Daren Jenkins (from Washington, DC, played in Argentina and China), Felton Spencer, Travis Knight, Greg Anthony, Scott Burrell.
