The core of the team that represented Guyana last year at the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) U-16 Tournament will form part of the squad that is going to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic on July 25 for the Centrobasket Under-17 Championships.
Action at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall during trials for the Centrobasket Championships
The first day of the trials were conducted on Saturday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, where Guyana Times Sport spoke exclusively to Head Coach Lugard Mohan.
“I have to be positive because I have to send over that message to the team, but CAC (Central American and Caribbean) basketball is no joke. These kids can play, they are at a high level. Most of them are going into division one college. This is an experience for them (Guyanese players) to represent their country and to get better. It is going to be a tough task, but we are stepping up to the challenge,” Coach Mohan revealed.
Two overseas-based players — Captain of the U-16 team, Jordan Alphonso, and Kevon Wiggins who migrated after last year’s Championships — are returning to the squad. They both were outstanding at the CBC tournament, obtaining accolades for being the leading scorer and rebounder respectively.
Guyana qualified for the Centrobasket Championships when they finished second in the CBC, behind The Bahamas last year. Jamaica, who was third in the CBC tournament, also qualified for the championships.
Training sessions at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall will continue with the reduced squad as follows: June 17 – 18, June 24 – 25, July 1 – 10, and July 14 – 24 (Encampment).
The Guyana U-17 team will depart for Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on Tuesday, July 25, and return to Guyana on Monday, July 31.
The Federation had initially shortlisted 21 players to participate in the trials. Those had included some outstanding U-15 players.
The following is a list of the players shortlisted: Yannick Tappin, Linden; Leon Benjamin, Linden; Shamar France, Berbice; Kelmar Carmichael, Berbice; Garfield Benjamin, Berbice; Andrew Johnson, Georgetown; Nigel Bowen, Georgetown; Roydon Glasgow, Georgetown; Akeem Crandon, Berbice; Jermaine King, Berbice; Kareem Boyle, Berbice; Jordan Alphonso, Berbice; US-based Kevon Wiggins, Berbice; US-based Jahleel Young, Georgetown; Zion Gray, Georgetown; Jeremy Campbell, Berbice; Denzil Ross, Georgetown; Kadeem Dover, Kwakwani; Isaiah Hintzen, Kwakwani; Jether Harris, Georgetown; and Anthony Yansin, Georgetown.
