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The six-foot seven-inch centre recently returned to Jamaica where he visited his alma mater and donated a few pairs of sneakers to the basketball team that played a crucial role in his development during his formative years.

There he took the responsibility to oversee training from his high school coach Ricardo Edwards, whom he described “like a father” before delivering an inspiring motivational team talk, during which he broke down in tears at one point.

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.

The faith-based initiative had approximately 250 campers participating in the July 8-12 programme now in its fifth year.

Speaking to Old Harbour News on day two, Roberts said the exposure and development of each camper guided by its Christian beliefs “warms his heart” and remains one of the biggest reasons why the team of 26 coaches/volunteers is so committed to this cause.

The camp is split in two main groups: one for general novices and two; for the very talented. The latter, Roberts believes all have the potential to play at the “next level”.

Wilson, a top class high jumper from St Jago, was rightly tipped as one for the future of Jamaica’s track and field programme.

The challenge, however, is that Wilson is also a very talented basketball player. It was through basketball he was offered a scholarship to pursue higher education at Chipola College in Florida, but after one year at junior college he’s seriously contemplating continuing his degree programme at GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport and recalibrating his focus back on track and field.

The NBA is naturally his preferred destination, but if that doesn't work out getting in to the pro leagues across Europe would suffice.

Fresh from out of high school about three years ago, Redwood was offered a basketball scholarship to further his education in the United States of America.

It was an opportunity he grasped with both hands. Today he's reading for his bachelor's degree in business management at Taylor University in Indiana.

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.

The 2011 and 2012 national champions were edged into third by White River of St Ann who joined group winner Johnson Mountain into the quarter-finals.

Net-run-rate came into the equation to determine the team that placed second in the group, as Old Harbour, White River and Eastwood Park Gardens all ended the second round on three points.

However, after crunching the numbers White River had the best net-run-rate, according to the organisers.

The event, now in its 16th year, was sponsored by JN Bank and gives members of the community a chance to unite in a game of golf in order to raise much-needed funds in support of the Boys’ Town Community Group in west Kingston, Jamaica.

The defeat means Old Harbour, Eastwood Park Gardens and White River all finished their round-of-16 Group A campaign on three points each behind unbeaten group winner Johnson Mountain with maximum nine points.

Host team Johnson Mountain (185-4) sealed top spot to secure a quarter-final berth, following a narrow four-run win over St Ann’s White River (181-6) in the day’s feature game at the same venue.

The two-time national champions defeated White River of St Ann on the weekend, before going down by three wickets to St Thomas representatives Johnson Mountain 24 hours later in round-of-16 matches in Group A.

The results see Johnson Mountain sitting atop the group after eking out a narrow six-run win over Eastwood Park Gardens in the Chedwin Park double-header on Saturday. Old Harbour, with a superior net run-rate, are in second position ahead of White River who defeated Eastwood Park Gardens by two wickets in another double-header at Chedwin Park played the following day.