THIRTY-year-old Andre Smith has given his commitment to the national basketball team as Jamaica chase the dream of qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics.

Smith, a key player in Jamaica’s victorious Caribbean Basketball Championship (CBC) campaign last year in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, said he would return for this summer Centrobasket Championship in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

“It’s always a wonderful feeling to represent your country. I loved the overall experience, that’s why I’m returning,” he said.

Having grown up in Stephens Run, St Elizabeth, Smith attended Nain All-Age School before migrating to Miami, Florida, in the summer of 1989.

There, he was schooled at Colonial Drive Elementary, Southwood Jr High and Miami Palmette High before making a name for himself at the University of North Carolina, Asheville.

“I played soccer all through elementary to middle school, and began playing basketball seriously in the ninth grade (1994),” he said.

He later excelled in the sport, kept his focus and was able to earn a living.

Having been professionally established in Argentina, Smith also plied his trade in Spain, Lithuania, Mexico, Venezuela and Syria.

From his first overseas job of $100,000 a month in Lithuania to $800,000 a month playing in Venezuela, Smith has fully embraced visiting and playing for his country.

“It’s great for me to visit my homeland because between the overseas playing schedule and training, it’s hard to find time to come home. It is a great feeling of pride to show the younger generation that our little country can achieve greatness,” he said.

On playing for Jamaica in the CBC in 2009, he noted: “It has been the best experience so far playing for Jamaica last year. We had an incredible coaching staff, wonderful sponsorship and Ajani Williams as JABA president.

“As a former basketball player he knows exactly the accommodations necessary, allowing my only focus to be basketball.”

And what are his plans when he is no longer playing professionally?

“I plan on getting into business, and yes, I see myself getting involved in basketball in Jamaica. Things are getting better and better for sure,” he stated.

The Centrobasket Championship will take place from July 5-12 in Santo Domingo, with Jamaica drawn in Group A along with the US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Panama and hosts Dominican Republic.

Puerto Rico, Belize, Trinidad & Tobago, Mexico and Cuba will play in Group B of the championship, with the top four teams advancing to the pre-Olympic FIBA Americas Championship and the top eight for this year’s Central American and Caribbean Games from July 17 to August 1 in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.