National basketball team down to 15, after intense trials

After two gruelling days of trials at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), Guyana’s National Basketball Team has been whittled down to 15 players, signalling the first step towards a critical international campaign.
The challenging task of leading this talented squad to the Nations Cup tournament which will be held in Paramaribo, Suriname from January 24–27 devolves on Head Coach Adrian Hooper and Assistant Coach Marlon Rodrigues. Guyana is scheduled to oppose Suriname and Grenada in what the Guyana Basketball Federation promises to be an exciting start to the year.
The 15 players shortlisted comprise Stanton Rose, Domair Gladstone and Kimol Grimmond of the Untouchables; Orlan Glasgow, Harold Adams, Jushawn Bayley and Yannick Tappin of the Royals; Travis Belgrave, Denzel Ross and Zian Gray of the Eagles; Nikkoloi Smith and Shamaar Huntley of the Ravens; Shane Webster and Oquacey Shortt of the Colts, and Jermaine Slater of the Kobras. Initially, 23 players were invited to the trials, making the final selection process an exceptionally competitive one.

Reflecting on the trials, Coach Hooper said, “These two days have been intense. The players brought their ‘A’ game, making my job of narrowing down the roster extremely difficult. But that’s a good problem to have; it shows the depth of talent we have in Guyana.”
The selection process is far from over, however, as the team would undergo two more training sessions this week before the final 12 players are announced on Friday.
“We’re committed to selecting the best possible team, not just to compete, but to win,” Hooper added. “I’m confident that when we regroup this weekend and head to Suriname, these players will be ready to give their all and make Guyana proud.”
The tournament in Suriname holds immense significance, not just for the players, but also for the broader basketball community in Guyana. Michael Singh, President of the GBF, in expressing his excitement at Guyana participating in the Nations Cup, has emphasised its importance as a developmental and preparatory event.
“This tour is the start of early preparations for our national team, and it provides an excellent opportunity to measure the standard of our local game,” Singh has said. “By focusing on our locally-based players for this tournament, we aim to identify and develop talent here at home, giving them the exposure needed to compete at the international level. This approach will allow us to integrate overseas-based players into future engagements with a stronger foundation.”
Highlighting the impact of the ongoing “One Guyana” Premier Basketball League, Singh has said, “Our players have been competing at a high level domestically, and this has provided the GBF with a robust pool of talent to work with. The Nations Cup will give us valuable insights into how our local players match up against regional competition.”
The Nations Cup serves as a critical step in Guyana’s preparations to defend its title at the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship, and Singh has revealed that the GBF is planning its own version of the Nations Cup in May, when three other CBC teams would be competing in Guyana.
“This year promises to be one of the most active and exciting periods for Guyana’s National Basketball Team,” Singh has said. “We’re eager to see how this team performs and how these tournaments will shape the future of basketball in our country.”
Both Singh and Coach Hooper believe the Nations Cup would undoubtedly test the senior men’s team as they prepare for back-to-back games against regional rivals.
According to Hooper, with a mix of veteran leadership and emerging talent, Guyana is poised to make a strong statement in Paramaribo, and Guyanese players are eager to seize the opportunity to represent their nation on the international stage.