Skilling still has basketball dream

UNITED STATES-BASED sports and entertainment events producer Craig Skilling has not given up on his dream of hosting a largescale NBA-type event in Barbados.

And, in that vein, he has brought another NBA player to the island to ensure his dream becomes a reality.

In an effort to sell the idea of "the NBA in Barbados", Miami Heat forward James Jones has spent the last week in the country trying to formulate ties with corporate entities across the island.

Just last month, Skilling secured the services of starting Houston Rockets' point guard, Rafer Alston and Wali Jones, a scout with the Heat, to stage the Barbados Celebrity Basketball Charity Weekend.

But the weekend's activities were reduced to a mere coaching clinic – conducted by Wali Jones and Alston – for the island's top junior basketballers due to the lack of sponsorship.

However, Skilling, despite the initial discouraging responses, will continue to woo corporate Barbados with the help of James Jones before he returns to the island sometime next year to host another basketball-based event.

Only this time, with the help of Jones, Skilling expects to co-ordinate an event of a larger kind.

And so far, according to Jones, their efforts have been relatively successful, garnering the support of STARCOM NETWORK and the Barbados Olympic Association along with some approving nods from leading corporate entities.

Scholarship
Skilling's visit in July led to the recruitment of Combermere student Kregg Jones to an American team on the high-profiled Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) league. That then resulted in the 6-foot 6-inch Lumber Company Lakers forward/centre getting a scholarship offer from a United States-based prep school.

And Jones, who is married to Barbadian national Destiny Jones, sees further opportunities for more of Barbados' home grown talent. He believes the country has the infrastructure to develop into a regional scouting hub for overseas-based coaches and scouts in search of foreign players.

"The goal is to grow basketball here and expose the players," said the Heat sharp shooter, who had previous stints with the Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns and most recently the Portland Trailblazers.

"I came down last summer, played with some of the guys and was amazed by the talent . . . I mean guys 16, 17 (years old) giving me a run for my money."

(nationnews.com)