Coach hails ‘Showdown in Miami’ as massive success
Published:Saturday | October 28, 2023 | 12:07 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
WAYNE DAWKINS, head coach of PHASE 1 Academy, is calling his team’s recent trip to ‘Showdown in Miami’ a success.
The venture, Dawkins said, gave a few talented local players their first taste of not only travelling, but also playing on an indoor basketball court.
“We had a lot of exhibition matches in Miami and it was great because we got the kids to travel. We had players from Majesty Gardens who were travelling and playing in an air-conditioned gym for the first time, so it was good to help prepare them for the bigger competition that’s coming up,” said Dawkins.
The team, a group of 20 players with age ranging from 15 to 19, managed to rub shoulders with the likes of players from Keys Gate Charter High School, ABF Academy and Miami Prep.
According to Dawkins, basketball played in Jamaica isn’t close in comparison to some of their rivals and the level of competition they face whenever they leave the country will only accelerate development.
“This will help because this current generation is getting basketball exposure at this level. Jamaica’s basketball isn’t played on the level as in North America or Europe, so these kids are getting opportunities for their skills to be accelerated because they’re playing against better competition. Every game was tough and was a battle and that is what you need to take your skills to the next level,” he added.
Dawkins, who was accompanied by assistant coaches in Dave Black and Rohan Ferguson, also saw first-hand the style of play from American schools and the different systems of play they employ. To him, it was a learning experience all round for the group.
“We got a chance to see the difference between the styles of play and what makes the other teams more competitive. What does a high-level American player look like, how do they move, how do they shoot the ball? We also saw the different systems that they run, so it was a good learning experience as we weren’t there to have a one-time practice experience. We are preparing our guys to compete with these players.”