Samardo Samuels’ recent signing with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers makes him the second Jamaican basketball player to join the world’s best basketball league this summer (Jerome Jordan being the first). Born in Trelawny, Samuels learned how to play the game in Jamaica before attending Saint Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey. As a high school senior, he was named the 2008 Gatorade National Player of the Year and the 2008 USA Today National Player of the Year. He went on to play college basketball at the University of Louisville for two years.

Although the 6 ft 9 in Samuels went undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draft, he managed to earn a spot on the Chicago Bulls summer league team. His solid play was enough to convince the Cleveland Cavaliers, along with other NBA franchises, to offer him a contract. This is a good reward given the fact that many ‘experts’ predicted that Samardo Samuels would have to further hone his skills in Europe before getting a chance to join the NBA. The road to his NBA success is long but he has made the first stride.

I strongly believe that this is only the tip of the iceberg as far as Jamaican basketball talent is concerned. With more investment put into the building of proper basketball courts in Jamaica, we could witness a steady wave of Jamaican players joining the professional ranks in the NBA and overseas in the near future. With more courts available, kids could spend more time working on the finer aspects of their game. The establishment of indoor facilities is also crucial for the development of the game in Jamaica. Indoor facilities ensure that practices and matches take place regardless of the weather.

To be continued…