With Atlanta now his NBA home, Terance Mann plans more frequent trips to Saint Lucia – and more investments in its basketball future.
The 28-year-old Hawks swingman, traded from the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this season, sees his new team’s proximity as a chance to deepen ties to his parents’ homeland. During a recent visit, Mann hosted a clinic for young Saint Lucian players, sharing his journey and outlining his foundation’s plans – from sneaker donations to building a new court.
“I’m in Atlanta now, so I’m a lot closer – direct flight,” he told St Lucia Times. “In LA, I was kind of far, so it was hard to make it out here as much, so I’m definitely going to be out here more often.”
More than two dozen aspiring Saint Lucian basketballers met and interacted with Mann this week, on his latest visit to Saint Lucia. He spoke to the kids, aged between six and 16, about his journey to the league.
He spoke with St Lucia Times about this latest visit and the work undertaken by the Terance Mann Complete Player Foundation, which donated 30 pairs of Skechers sneakers to the Saint Lucia Basketball Federation last year.
“It’s just something we’ve always wanted to do,” Mann said. “It’s one of the four initiatives in our foundation – to help the basketball and infrastructure here. So we have a lot of work to do, and we’re excited to get working on it… Shoes, basketballs, we’re trying to do uniforms, and then one of our biggest goals is to do a court. It’s one of the biggest things we have on the list.”
Mann and his team have been in discussion with the local governing body and the Government through the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports over the past two years. A key point in their discourse has been the possible location of a new court. Following his conversation with the young hoopers, he made a token presentation of a pair of sneakers and was presented with an SLBF shirt.
He has visited several times for the Saint Lucia Carnival, but he said that on this occasion, he opted for a different kind of vibe.
“Jazz [Festival] for sure this time, just excited to take it easy, take it slow, listen to some good music,” he said.
Mann also revealed that he has high expectations for the Hawks next season. This year, the team held a Saint Lucia Heritage Night, which reinforced the sense of belonging for the sixth-year player. He said he has been enjoying the experience of his new team, which is led by All-Star point guard Trae Young. Since he was traded in February, Mann has averaged 9.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.
