More than 40 junior basketball players have taken part in the Digicel NBA JumpStart Clinics run by two NBA coaches with a view to being a part of an elite camp in Trinidad this month.

Two professional coaches — Chris Ebersole and Adrian Alvarez — are in Bermuda for the three-day camp, putting under 16 players through intensive drills.

Similar clinics are being held in the Caribbean between August 24 and September 28 and will bring five of the best players from each country together for the elite camp from September 26 to 28.

Ebersole is the co-ordinator of basketball operations for the NBA and shared with the youngsters some of the characteristics that could make a professional player.

Alvarez is the senior co-ordinator of basketball operations for Mexico, having led various junior league and NBA youth camp programmes.

“It’s occasions like this that remind me how great it is to be at a company that gets how important investment into the community is,” said Julian Burton, commercial director for Digicel, during a drills sessions yesterday at Mount Saint Agnes Academy attended by Michael Dunkley.

Playing basketball in the MSA gym brought back memories for the Premier of his high school days.

“I used to train here when I played basketball,” one of Saltus’ most famous alumni said. “I wasn’t very good, but I left it all on the floor every day and night when I trained.

“Let me thank the Bermuda Basketball Association for your initiative; I know it’s a lot of work.

“As a young man sports put me in a good position to move forward in life. I was like many of you — looked forward to the end of the day to play football or cricket but was always told by my parents that if you want to play sports then you have to study in school.”

Alvarez told the youngsters: “You can tell by the eyes when somebody loves something and I can tell from the coaches last night and from you guys right now that you love the game and have passion for the game.

“We want to share basketball with you, the best skills and drills we have and learn from you as much as you learn from us. I’m honoured to be here.”

Ebersole added: “It’s about you guys taking away as much as you can from this, absorbing as much knowledge and skill development as you can. We’re excited to see this grow and we’re excited to be here.”

The clinics, which will be run by NBA International Basketball Operations staff and focus on player development, will bring together hundreds of players and coaches from across the Caribbean.

The top eight players from the elite camp, as determined by the NBA JumpStart coach, will have the opportunity to attend an NBA game in the United States along with a tour of an NBA arena.

Charles Peters, the president of the BBYF, was grateful for the opportunity to work with the NBA at the clinics.

“We have been discussing expanding this event and more like it with the NBA and Digicel and we have already set our sights on holding NBA JumpStart clinics in Bermuda for at least the next five years,” he said.

• Anyone interested in NBA JumpStart contact the BBYF at info@bbyfbasketball.org.