Jeff Rogers (left) gives basketball tips to three year-old Andrade Wright jnr, son of the Tivoli Gardens All-Stars basketball player Andrade Wright Snr, during the first annual Jeff Rogers Basketball Camp at the Edward Seaga complex, yesterday. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

Over 150 kids from Tivoli Gardens and its environs were selected to join those from Trench Town and surrounding communities to receive further skills development and training, after the second session of the first annual Jeff Rogers Basketball Camp at the Edward Seaga complex, West Kingston, yesterday.

Approximately 1,000 children (ages 11 to 19) participated in the two camps. The first was staged at the Tony Spaulding Sport Complex on Monday, and today the camp moves to the GC Foster College, where those selected will have three days to further undergo skills development and training.

Prizes were also offered to those finishing in the top three in their groups, which ranged from 11-12, 13-14, 15-16 and 17-19. First place received bicycles; second place got bags and third place, shirts.

Bruce Bicknell, of sponsors Tank-Weld Metals, said the camp is doing a lot more than just teaching basketball to the youngsters.

Character building and the development of self esteem are among some of the non-basketball lessons being taught.

Bicknell also noted that the camp has done a lot to put Jamaica in a positive light, as Rogers and his team had reservations about travelling to Jamaica because of the levels of crime.

However, since their arrival, Bicknell said that their perception has changed, and "they all now love it here and have committed themselves to returning next year, bringing even more NBA players with them".

With Rogers now convinced of Jamaica's hospitality, he will now utilise his contacts to help convince others to come here, Bicknell disclosed.

"Since he arrived, Jeff has convinced them that we are a hospitable and kind people, so the NBA players who had second thoughts about coming have now booked their flights to come.

"And people like Greg Anthony, who has connections with ESPN... Jeff deliberately wanted him to come, so he could promote Jamaica through his affiliation with ESPN," he added.

The camp ends on Saturday with an exhibition game between NBL players at the national stadium courts.

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