Edwards named co-ordinator of Jamaica’s national youth basketball teams

The 46-year-old former WNBA star for the Seattle Storm was last week formally appointed by the Jamaica Basketball Association (JaBA) and is tasked “with developing strategies and plans to ensure Jamaica consistently field youth level teams in regional competitions in the first instance”.

“As part of her range of duties Simone will organize identification and training camps both in Jamaica and the USA in an effort to produce competitive age group teams,” the local governing body for basketball said in announcing Edwards appointment.

The six-foot, four-inch Jamaican, who was instrumental in the Storm’s lifting of the WNBA title in 2004, comes to the position with a wealth of knowledge and experience.

The former national player, who retired from the sport in 2006 represented Jamaica as a player for almost a decade during which she won the CBC championship. She also won silverware as the national female coach in the CBC 2014 tournament and carried the team to a podium position in the Centrobasket Championship.

“Her expertise and network is expected to create a platform for sustainability by engaging the diaspora and tapping into the human capital and other resources,” JaBA stated.

Simone who also played professionally in Hungary, Spain, Israel and Italy said: “I am delighted to give back to the growth and development of basketball in Jamaica and I hope to harness the talent available to Jamaica to ensure that once again Jamaica can be a powerhouse in regional basketball.”

In her new role, JaBA stated that Edwards will seek to create an expanded pool of experienced youth players who can transition into the senior national teams.

This development pathway being created “would culminate in the core of players qualifying and playing in the 2028 Olympic games,” the association said.

Meantime, JaBA has appointed Deon Williams as the national coordinator for 3x3 basketball development, events and tournaments. This is in keeping with FIBA’s thrust to expand the playing of 3x3 basketball globally. Deon represented Dinthill Technical in the ISSA basketball competition and subsequently served as player /coach for Savanna Hawks basketball club in the western conference club competition.  He also coached Mannings school and thereafter transitioned to refereeing and administration.

Currently Deon is the VP of leagues and operations for the Western Basketball Association (WBA) and he is also coordinator for the ISSA Western Conference. In 2019, Deon completed and passed the FIBA commissioner’s test and he opined “I am happy to serve in this capacity and look forward to assisting with the growth on 3x3 basketball across the country”.