The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE basketball prospect showcase culture in the country continues to develop and International Basketball Academy Bahamas looks to become one of the leaders in the field as its event grows in stature.

IBA Bahamas and Get Me Recruited (GMR) will host the 2017 "Super 60 Showdown/Hot 100 Bahamas Showcase" at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium June 16-18.

Friday's opening session will be hosted 4-8pm followed by 9am to 5pm sessions on Saturday and Sunday.

The Super 60 segment is geared towards the top seniors in the country and the Hot 100 is for the top juniors among both boys and girls.

The two groups collaborated last June when they hosted the inaugural edition of the showcase and scores of players came out to seize advantage of the opportunity. The showcase featured some of the most highly touted Bahamian high school players based both locally and abroad.

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.

The showcase featured players 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.

Lamont Taylor, the CEO of GetMeRecruited.com said the partnership is aimed at bringing greater exposure to talented players from the Bahamas.

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."

"We're looking to build a bridge between America and the Bahamas because there is so much talent here. The athleticism here is a step above what we've normally seen. The athleticism in these videos and in these games is well above what we're used to. If no one sees them they don't have a chance to offer them scholarships and get them to the states. We want to provide a platform where these kids can showcase their skills, get coaches looking at them and provide opportunities," he said following the 2016 showcase.

Training at the showcase also featured Tim Fields, a skill instructor at John Lucas Enterprises.

A busy summer for IBA Bahamas will also include its 4th Annual Elite Skills Summer Camp. The camp, to be hosted June 26 to July 14 at the Bahamas Academy Gymnasium, Wulff Road, is open to both boys and girls ages 5 to 18.

The camp will feature a concentration on offensive and defensive critiquing and performance, advanced ball handling and footwork.

Registration for both the showcase and the camp can be found at www.ibabahamas242.com and more information can be found via email - info.ibabahamas@gmail.com, or coach Bowles at 466-0049.