The 2023 Jamaica Basketball Showcase (JBS) is set to be bigger and better than the inaugural event in 2022.  The event will be broadcast live on several SportsMax platforms and will be reaching a global audience, creating a great opportunity to showcase the best basketball talent in Jamaica and helping to revitalize the sport in the country.

That was the overarching theme expressed at the launch of the 2023 JBS that place on Tuesday, July 19, at Express Fitness at the Constant Spring Golf Club in Kingston. The event was attended by representatives from SportsMax, the Jamaica Basketball Association, and Express Fitness as well as players from the participating teams.

The 2023 JBS is scheduled to take place from July 27-29, 2023, at the Donald Sangster Auditorium at the University of Technology and is expected to be a major showcase for basketball talent in Jamaica. Six Under-20 teams including defending champions PHASE 1 Academy, Purple Power, Hoop Factory Blues, Camperdown Giants, Blue Mahoe Basketball and Caribbean Basketball Academy, will compete for JMD$300,000 in prize money. PHASE 1 will take on Purple Power in the opening match.

Paul Campbell, CEO of Sports Innovators Group (SIG), the event's organizer, said that the 2023 JBS promises to be "bigger and better" than the inaugural event in 2022." He added that the event is expected to "reignite some interest in basketball" in Jamaica.

Campbell cited the addition of SportsMax as a broadcast partner as a major reason for the event's growth. He said that SportsMax's reach will help to expose the JBS to a wider audience, both in Jamaica and around the world.

Meanwhile, Nicholas Matthews, CEO of SportsMax, said that the network is "excited" to be broadcasting the 2023 JBS." Matthews expressed the view that SportsMax is committed to "developing local and regional sports," and that the JBS is a "great opportunity" to do just that.

According to the broadcaster’s CEO, SportsMax, who have entered into a five-year agreement with SIG will be providing premium coverage of the JBS, including live broadcasts on the SportsMax channels and streaming on the Sportsmax app, on CEEN TV as well as the Sports Innovators Group website.

Paulton Gordon, President of the Jamaica Basketball Association, believes JBS is "a huge success" and that the association is "looking forward to an ongoing partnership" with Sports Innovators Group."

He said that the JBS has helped to "revitalize basketball in Jamaica," and that the association is "committed to working with Sports Innovators Group to make the JBS even bigger and better in the years to come."

Nicholas Lynch, CEO of Express Fitness, said that the company is "very much invested into developing sport through youth" and explained that the JBS is "an excellent opportunity" for Express Fitness to "continue that support."

Lynch also said that Express Fitness will be providing a number of resources to the JBS, including fitness training for the players and support for the event's marketing and promotion.

In an unprecedented partnership, Sports Innovators Group Ltd has announced that SL Benfica Soccer Club from Portugal will be hosting a six-day football camp in Jamaica as part of their international schools program. The camp, set to take place from July 3-8, 2023, at Kingston's iconic Sabina Park, will provide a unique opportunity for 100 aspiring soccer players aged 6-17 to receive coaching from representatives of SL Benfica.

Each day, two sessions will be conducted, with 50 participants in each session. The camp will culminate with a thrilling selection process, where 28 standout players will be chosen to compete in two games on the final day.

For SL Benfica, the camp not only aims to provide a high-level soccer experience but also serves as a talent scouting opportunity. "The main goal is always to seek talent. In Portugal, we know that there will not be as many kids in the future, so we need to prepare a strategy to find the best talent as soon as possible," expressed David Gomez, Director of SL Benfica International School Program.

The partnership will not only benefit the young Jamaican players but also allow 10 local coaches to actively participate in the training sessions. These coaches will have a unique opportunity to observe and learn from SL Benfica's methodology and philosophy, which earned them the prestigious titles of the world's best academy by Globe Soccer in 2019 and the 2021 Football Talent Scout Platform's best Academy of the Decade.

Paul Campbell, Managing Director at Sports Innovators Group Limited, emphasized that this remarkable camp aligns with SIG's mission. "It is part of SIG's strategic approach to support the development of our young footballers and the sport as a whole. With the abundance of talent residing in our small island of Jamaica, we should find ways to expose our youngsters to more opportunities like this. SIG aims not only to showcase the talent we possess but also position Jamaica as a premier sporting destination," said Campbell.

Campbell further revealed that several young players identified during the Barbados camp were considered potential prospects for further evaluation by SL Benfica coaches in Portugal. The excitement among the SL Benfica coaching staff about the talents Jamaica has to offer is palpable, raising anticipation for the upcoming camp.

This historic partnership between SL Benfica through their agent Nexus Global and Driftwood Dreams, Sports Innovators Group Ltd promises an extraordinary soccer experience for Jamaican youth, fostering skill development, leadership growth, and potential international scouting opportunities. Aspiring soccer players and enthusiasts across Jamaica eagerly await the SL Benfica Football Camp, eagerly anticipating the chance to learn from and impress one of Europe's most esteemed soccer clubs.