The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ADD another to the growing list of opportunities for young Bahamian basketball players to display their skillset to coaches, scouts and various programmes.

International Basketball Academy (IBA) Bahamas and Get Me Recruited (GMR) are scheduled to host the 2016 “Super 60 Showdown Bahamas” June 16-18 at the Remnant Tabernacle Gym.

The showcase will feature some of the most highly touted Bahamian high school players locally and abroad.

Several scouts and coaches from visiting US programmes will be in attendance to evaluate the players. Some players already confirmed to participate include Qymeh Gibson (Sunrise Christian), Recarno Nixon (Zion Christian), Chalberto Darling (St Louis Christian), Daniel Hall (Charles W Saunders), Azaro Roker (Anatol Rodgers),  Gailyn Young (Dame Doris Johnson), Arlington Brown, (Teleos Christian),  Edward Roker (West Oaks Academy), Adam Johnson (Jordan Prince William) among many others.

IBA Bahamas has impacted the local basketball scene in its brief history led by its director Denycko Bowles, who also serves as the head coach of the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins.

It is the first international branch of the IBA programme based in Baltimore, Maryland.

Last June, IBA Bahamas hosted 60 student athletes to its annual combine summer camp which hosted various programme representatives from John Hopkins, Fisk University, Cape Fair Christian High School, Hallandale High school and Lamont Taylor, the CEO of GetMeRecruited.com.

Taylor returns this offseason to officially partner with IBA for the Super 60 Showdown.

“Nassau, Bahamas, at the International Basketball Academy Bahamas Skills Combine, that it has much more to offer than palm trees, pristine blue waters, sandy white beaches, and a soothing breeze that relaxes the soul.

“GetMeRecruited got the opportunity to see the talent looming in the Bahamas. It should come as no surprise the island is full of great basketball players given the history of players who originate from there, including current ESPN top 2017 prospect Deandre Ayton. Surprisingly, many coaches have not yet realised there are many players in the Bahamas that would be perfect to fill their rosters,” Taylor said following the 2015 combine. “Denycko Bowles and Heather Bain, directors of the International Basketball Academy Bahamas, intend to change that. They organised this combine with the island’s top prospects and brought in scouts, high school coaches, as well as college coaches. GetMeRecruited was highly impressed with the organisation of the combine and the talent that participated. We intend to continue our relationship with IBA Bahamas because there is a need for exposure there and very good-hearted people trying to make it happen.”

Get Me Recruited is a Raleigh, North Carolina-based company whose goal is to connect high school players and college coaches through the mission statement: “To be personally involved in the collegiate basketball recruiting process one recruit at a time.”

“This summer, GMR takes flight and heads abroad to evaluate the top 60 prospects the Bahamas has to offer. With the continued success of our “Super 60 Showdown,” our staff has been given the opportunity to do what we do best and place the most elite talent under one roof and present Super 60 Showdown Bahamas. With help from our associates at the IBA, we’ve selected the cream of the Bahamian crop and are thrilled and honoured to be courtside to witness basketball beyond international borders.”

The showcase will  range from junior high schoolers to post grad unattached. In addition to the summer programmes, IBA has participated in the Summer of Thunder and travelled to AAU tournaments in the US.