Berkeley student Yontz Sutton is on a trip of a lifetime to New York City for a top-class basketball experience, which involves training at NBA facilities, competing against local youth teams in the tri-state area and attending an NBA game between the Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors.

Sutton, one of more than 40 youngsters who took part in the Digicel NBA JumpStart Clinics in Bermuda in September run by two NBA coaches, travelled to New York yesterday.

From the clinic in Bermuda, Sutton was handpicked by the NBA coaches, along with players across eight Caribbean countries, to participate in the Elite Camp in Trinidad and Tobago later that month.

“Having made it through the intense training at the Jumpstart Clinics and the Elite Camp, we are excited to welcome them to New York City for the final phase of the programme,” Phillipe Moggio, the NBA senior vice-president for Latin America, said.

“We are delighted that the Jumpstart programme has given these boys such an amazing opportunity to get first-hand training from highly qualified coaches, as well as showcase what they have learnt.”

Robin Seale, the Digicel and BTC chief executive officer, said: “Yontz is on a journey where he will develop his extraordinary talent throughout his Digicel NBA Jumpstart experience. We wish Yontz all the best of luck.”

The Digicel NBA Jumpstart Basketball programme was launched with the hosting of the clinics across the Caribbean.

The top performing athletes attended the Digicel/NBA Jumpstart Elite Camp in Trinidad and Tobago, where they trained with former NBA players, Adonal Foyle and Muggsy Bogues.