Basketball For The Future (BFTF), a local youth programme, began the summer by giving more than 20 kids ages 8 to 18 a great chance to learn. Head coach Ron Du Murville led the first Elite Basketball Summer Clinic at Vigie Multipurpose Sports Complex, working with American coach Brad Seaman.
Seaman runs Team EbLens, a top AAU basketball programme in New England, and also coaches at Kingswood Oxford Prep. Based in West Hartford, Connecticut, his programmes offer competitive teams for boys and girls in grades 4 to 12, focusing on skill-building, teamwork and giving players more opportunities to be seen.
The partnership between Ron Du Murville and Seaman introduced younger kids to the basics of basketball, while the older, more experienced participants had the opportunity to refine their skills. The initiative is intended to be the basis for securing long-term athletic and academic opportunities, such as playing in overseas AAU tournaments.
“It’s just to promote learning and some basketball skills and some plyo footwork that I had from back home that I was able to come here and teach a little bit,” explained Du Murville. “In their own way, the little kids were locked in. Even when we gave water breaks, they were back to shooting before we were even officially back to getting to our drills.
“The older guys, there’s more specific details, but they’re trying their best, and they’re soaking it all in and taking the learning. I think it’s with every basketball player; their strength is able to learn. They want to get better. Their shot form looks pretty good. They’re athletic and fast, and they can get to the rim.
“We’ve covered ball handling skills, coming off ball screens, and shot preparation currently. But I’m going to give them a bunch of drills to keep with them all summer. But again, they’re taking all of that learning, and they will have stuff for when I leave. Coach here is doing an incredible job and had them ready for today.”
Du Murville told St Lucia Times that his relationship with Seaman began through BFTF alumni who had secured US basketball scholarships and introduced them. The next step, he says, is to get some Saint Lucian players to compete in AAU tournaments.
“What we’re really getting into is to see our level of skill level of our kids down here and see what’s the availability to actually have a team to travel to the overseas and participate in these AAU tournaments that tend to be taking over the basketball landscape in America and kind of creating a lot of opportunities for these young 15- to 17-year-old athletes that try to pursue their basketball dreams,” he said.
Du Murville said that building top-level players takes time and dedication from everyone – athletes, coaches, parents, the national federation and the government. He added that his camp was run with little sponsorship, but he believes that with the right support, Saint Lucia can develop strong players in the future.
