Old Harbour’s Chad Avis named in Jamaica U17 basketball team, but schoolmate misses out

However, Avis’ schoolmate Shadaine Robinson, who plays point guard, failed to make the final cut announced from a squad of 15 which has been training for the tournament for several weeks.

Jamaica will seek to finish in the top-three at the end of the July 24-28 tournament to qualify for the 2020 FIBA Under-18 Americas Championships.

Standing six feet, four inches tall, Avis, 16 said of his first national selection: “I wasn’t surprise because I know I would have made the team from the all-star game so I have a lot of confidence.

“Training is much harder, the competition is little bit more intense but I like challenges and I like the environment.

“I never doubt any team I played for and I never doubt myself, so we’re gonna go to Puerto Rico and we’re going to do well.”

Despite missing out Robison is aware of this main weakness, which he’s working towards correcting.

“I really want to be the starting point guard; I’m working hard on it but need things to improve,” he said.

He identifies “my decisions, my passing” as to two main aspects of his game that needs to be worked on.

“It’s very competitive,” he said of the training, but believes “that the team will do well” in their quest on the Spanish-speaking island.

Calvin Martin is the head coach, while Jehnylle 'Tanya' Wright is the team manager.

In addition to Jamaica and host country Puerto Rico, the Centrobasket U17 Championship will feature the participation of the Bahamas, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama and the Virgin Islands.

Squad: Chad Avis, Flawless Travours, Dallon Douglas, Micah Swaine, Kyle Ottar, Jean-Paul Campbell, Kevon Gayle, Orlando Wallace, Denroy Watson, Raheem Daley, Joshua Minott, Anthony Thorpe