Steve Parillon was busy on Friday teaching junior basketball players how to play the game during the first annual Easter Hoop and Basketball Showcase Camp on both Tortola and Virgin Gorda.
The Easter Hoops Basketball Camp attracted 97 participants on Tortola and 40 on VG.
“This is something I have always envisioned,” Mr. Parillon said. “Kids who love basketball they want to do something over Easter break.”
The camp covered a variety of skills including defense, shooting, passing and dribbling. The participants are divided up into different groups according to age and experience. Both boys and girls from 5 to 18 years old participated in the camp.
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Basketball players will also have the opportunity to earn scholarships. Coaches from various colleges including Sauk Valley Community College in Illinois, Colby Community College in Kansas, Central Arizona College, Gulf Coast Community College in Florida and East Central University in Oklahoma will be scouting players at the camp.
“We have a coach that is already interested in one of our top players,” Mr. Parillon said. “And there are other coaches that refuse to leave without a player.”
He added that the recruiting for basketball hasn’t always been good here, but he hopes to improve it.
Today there will be a closed session for coaches to look at individuals’ talents. A game between the USVI Young Talent and the BVI Young Talent will be held on Friday at the Multi-purpose Sports Complex.
“The coaches will see the players on a more competitive level,” Mr. Parillon said. “It is going to be exciting.”
See the April 14 issue for full story.