The Tribune

By RENALDO DOSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

NOBLE Preparatory Academy recently completed its educational tour in Canada where the programme exposed its student athletes to several of its partner institutions in North America and reconnected with its alumni.

Students toured high schools like Ridley College, Notre Dame and St Marcelleinus along with tertiary education institutions like Niagara College and Brock University.

NPA president Geno Bullard explained the benefits and purpose of the tour to the students, in particular to his basketball programme. “The plan is to visit the prep schools that we are affiliated with. They get a campus tour and play exhibition games against these schools. It gives them an opportunity to get exposure from these schools, but most importantly they are academically sound. I know this team can play – they can compete with anybody in the country. I know the level they are at in terms of basketball. This is why we have decided not to just focus on making all our attempts locally but looking ahead for the betterment of the students.”

The NPA Spartans had an opportunity to play alongside several alumni, including Shamar Burrows and Livingston Bromwell now at Ridley College and Delroy Grandison and Tenerro Ferguson at Niagra College.

At Ridley College, Bromwell is in the midst of an exchange programme with the school, which he hopes will transition into a full scholarship.

“I learned a lot, made me mature as a man. I developed certain habits I will need in the classroom getting me ready for the university level. Coming from Nassau we tend to have a more narrow-minded mentality but having the chance to be exposed to different cultures you have a more broad aspect of what you want to do in life. It has truly impacted my life and changed me,” Bromwell said. “You have to be focused and be committed for what you want to do. If you want a change to change your life, you have to clear your mind and push yourself to do different things to get to different places.

Burrows and Bromwell led the Tigers to their first provincial title in school history when they won the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations Class A boys basketball championship.

The Tigers qualified for the OFSAA tournament after an impressive league season in which they finished with the silver medal in the CISAA final.

Earlier in the season, the pair led the Tigers to the Upper Canada College Invitational tournament championship.

David Witty, director of basketball operations and head coach for Ridley College, said he looks for the bond between the school and the Bahamas to continue.

“I always say if you’re coming for basketball don’t come, there are lots of basketball schools out there and we are looking to create the whole student athlete,” he said. “In Livingston’s case he came here as a good athlete, high jumper and basketball player, but the most important part of Livingston’s progress here has been his maturity of himself as a person which will help him as he moves forward in his life. The Bahamas has a special place in our heart and we will continue that relationship.”

Ridley College in St Catharine’s, Ontario, is one of the leading private boarding and day university preparatory schools in the country. It is one of the oldest private schools in Canada and has the largest boarding programme in Ontario, with students representing over 35 countries.

Bullard said the institution has a mandate to fulfil its mission statement: “We have a moral obligation to prevent the exploitation of high school students. When the game ends and the glory fades, educated students will be the ultimate winners.”