Old Harbour youth credits basketball programme for changing his life

This environment also encompasses programmes such as the Old Harbour Church of Christ Basketball Camp where Bailey’s talent was spotted.

A return to Old Harbour this summer had Bailey reminiscing about where he is coming from.

“It’s so many memories, because people that I left here was very young, just learning the game. Now I see them they’re playing at a much higher level,” Bailey told Old Harbour News during a visit at the camp.

Bailey’s journey during his early life was not easy. When he started high school he was deemed a slow learner. But after being pulled under the wings of coach Edwards, Bailey was now on a road of transformation.

The Old Harbour Church of Christ court is familiar territory for Bailey as it is located in his home community of Old Harbour Glades. It is one of the basketball locations in Old Harbour he would spend a lot of his time along with his coach learning the game and of course about God.  

In his final high school year, Bailey copped a basketball scholarship along with his schoolmate and now close friend Javel Redwood to Sinclair Community College in the US state of Ohio.

In his second year Sinclair, Bailey’s transformation got even better, making the athletic honour roll with one of the highest GPA scores for a student athlete that ultimately earned him another basketball scholarship at Bethel University.

The once slow learner had not only developed quick feet and quick hands, but also a quick brain.

“My game has improved in some areas. Because how Americans play and how Jamaicans play is so different I have to adjust. It’s a lot faster. I’ve learned a lot,” said Bailey who is now pursuing a degree in business management.

“My dream is to go pro, probably the NBA, but my main goal now is getting an education,” continued the six-foot, five-inch forward, who is a devout Christian.  

“I should have been a lot further towards basketball, maybe like Division One or so, but I’m still grateful.”

At the camp where he’s volunteering as a member of the support coaching staff, Bailey said the programme is of tremendous help to youth like him who needed someone to guide them along their way.

“I have learned a lot from these coaches. We learned a lot about God, so it’s been a great impact on my life, kids been taken off the street, so it’s a great thing for the community of Old Harbour,” he said.