3 months ago
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AS JAMAICA’S national basketball programme ramps up preparations for the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 2027 World Cup pre-qualifiers, head coach Rick Turner believes the team could be on the brink of a special achievement.
“We’re not quite at the starting line yet and we’re nowhere near the finish line, but we are on the precipice of doing something really, really special for not only basketball, but for the country,” Turner said.
The Jam Rockers have never qualified for the FIBA World Cup in the programme’s history, a trend Jamaica Basketball Association President Paulton Gordon hopes to break.
“Our short-term goals are the World Cup in Doha 2027 and the Olympics in LA in 2028,” Gordon said.
“We have to climb the scene, look at what we need to get done. At this time, we’re going through the process of trying to identify the players; so, I am saying we need to grow the sport right across the board.”
Turner believes the squad is capable of claiming their first-ever FIBA World Cup qualification.
His confidence has been buoyed by the presence of National Basketball Association (NBA) personalities Norman Campbell of Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves’ Josh Minott.
Turner insisted, however, the squad is also set to feature top-class talents from outside the NBA.
“We have some really exciting players that have been participating with us this summer. One of which just finished from the NBA play-offs, Norman Campbell from the Los Angeles Clippers. He had a career season, a great player, and he’s really excited to get behind what we’re doing,
“We have another player who is currently in the NBA play-offs with the Minnesota Timberwolves named Josh Minott,” he said.
“Our great players aren’t just in the NBA. We have great players all over the world playing in the various leagues in Europe, Asia and South America, and they’re ready to do something really special.”
Turner, however, warned that despite the optimism, there is still a lot of work to be done before Jamaica begins the pre-qualifiers.
He believes that now is the perfect opportunity for Jamaica to make history, as he eyes spots at the World Cup and the upcoming Olympics.
“When your mind writes a cheque, your body has to cash it,” he explained. “Our minds wrote a cheque when I took this position. We wrote a cheque, mentally, that we want to compete in the Olympics and we have to cash that cheque, and that time is now.”
English (US) ·