Team Takeover delivered a dominant performance to clinch the championship title at the inaugural JamRockerz Basketball Classic, steamrolling Team Kingston 62-21 in the finals held on Sunday at the Montego Bay Community College. The victory capped off an undefeated run for Takeover, solidifying their status as the best team in the six-team, three-day competition.

 From the opening whistle, Takeover set the tone for the match, establishing a commanding 17-7 lead by the end of the first quarter. They continued to assert their dominance in the second quarter, extending their lead to 35-13. By the third quarter, the score had ballooned to 53-19, effectively sealing Kingston's fate. Takeover eased off slightly in the final quarter, closing out the game with a 9-2 run to secure the emphatic win.

 Cole Riley was the standout performer for Takeover, contributing 15 points, three rebounds, and four steals. Kingston’s Lebron Lewinson, despite his team's struggles, managed to score nine points, including a three-pointer, and added five rebounds and a steal.

 Takeover's assistant coach Marvin Riley praised his players for their outstanding effort throughout the tournament. “The kids played exceptionally well. They did what they were supposed to do—come to Jamaica and take over,” he said, highlighting the team's focus and determination.

 Riley also offered high praise for the Jamaican players, acknowledging their hard work and athleticism. “You guys have great players. More than anything, you play hard. You play exceptionally hard. You have good athletes. You need skill development, better facilities, and you need to really pour into the kids and have them believe they can play at an exceptionally high level because you have the talent,” Riley added.

 In the third-place play-off, Team International edged out Hardwood Kings from Ontario, Canada, in a close 49-46 victory. International’s Dwain Cummings posted an impressive double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Hardwood Kings’ Elijah Deyon contributed 16 points.

 Earlier in the day, Kingston earned their place in the final by defeating International 49-44 in their semifinal match-up. Lewinson again led Kingston with 12 points, five rebounds, two steals, and three assists, while Cummings was International’s top performer with eight points and five rebounds.

 Takeover’s path to the final was marked by a commanding 70-22 victory over Hardwood Kings in the other semifinal. Liberty Fusire led Takeover with a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Elijah Brown of Hardwood Kings managed nine points.

 The JamRockerz Basketball Classic, which also featured teams from Montego Bay and Trelawny, was deemed a resounding success by event organizer and coach of Kingston, Wayne Dawkins of P.H.A.S.E. 1 Academy. “I think that it is amazing. The support, you saw the energy, the kids on the floor, they understood what this was about. It doesn’t matter that Team Takeover is the number one club in America, they came out and they fought, and that’s what we want to see,” Dawkins said. He also expressed gratitude to the event's sponsors and partners, including Dr. Carey Wallace of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), NBA Houston Rockets player Tari Eason, and Kingston Marley, the grandson of Bob Marley.

 Cole Riley was named MVP of the tournament, receiving his award from Dr. Wallace. Liberty Fusire was recognized as the Defensive Player of the Tournament, with his award presented by Kingston Marley.

 The tournament’s All-Star team featured six standout players: D’Aire Patterson (Montego Bay), Daniel Clarke (Trelawny), Elijah Deyon (Hardwood Kings), Dwain Cummings (International), Lebron Lewinson (Kingston), and Doran Clausell (Takeover).

 The JamRockerz Basketball Classic successfully showcased top-tier talent and competition, setting the stage for what promises to be a highly anticipated annual event in Jamaica's basketball calendar.

 The inaugural JamRockerz Basketball Classic made a spectacular debut at the Montego Bay Community College on Friday, with intense competition and nail-biting finishes setting the tone for the three-day event. The tournament, featuring a mix of overseas and local teams, has quickly established itself as a must-watch event in the Jamaican basketball calendar.

The six-team tournament includes three overseas-based teams: Team Takeover from Maryland, DC, the Hardwood Kings from Brampton, Ontario, Canada, and P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy International, which is composed of P.H.A.S.E.1 members from both the United States and Canada. Representing Jamaica are P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy teams from Kingston, Montego Bay, and Trelawny, making for a diverse and competitive pool play event.

Friday's action kicked off with a closely contested battle between Hardwood Kings and P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy International, where the latter edged out a 67-65 victory. Dwain Cummings led the way for International with 21 points, eight rebounds, an assist, and two steals. Meanwhile, Hardwood Kings' Elijah Harriott made a valiant effort with 15 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks.

In the second game, Team Takeover claimed a narrow 56-53 win over Montego Bay. Clausell was instrumental in Takeover’s success, contributing 20 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three steals, and a block. Montego Bay's Daire Patterson stood out with 15 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks.

Team International returned to the court later in the day for a dominant 65-46 victory over Trelawny. Anthony Ingeton was the star performer, scoring 20 points, grabbing eight rebounds, dishing out an assist, and recording two steals. Trelawny's Daniel Clarke put up a solid fight with 12 points, five rebounds, two steals, and a block.

The final game of the day saw Team Takeover overpower Kingston with a decisive 52-23 win. Takeover’s 6’8” forward Elijah Flowers led with 16 points and five rebounds, while Kingston’s 5’10” guard Lebron Lewison managed eight points and a steal.

Mark Francis, coach of P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy International, praised the high level of competition at the Classic. "The competition is very strong. We are first in our side of the bracket. The other side of the bracket, we definitely have to give respect to. They look very strong and we are looking forward to the semi-finals tomorrow and see if we can win this championship,” Francis remarked. He also noted the impressive skill level on display, highlighting the athleticism and speed of the players, which he believes is comparable to what is seen in Canada.

Wayne Dawkins, global director and coach for P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of events like the JamRockerz Basketball Classic for the growth and development of basketball in Jamaica. "With the incredible support of our partners, we’re confident that this event will put Jamaica on the map as a global destination for competitive youth basketball,” Dawkins said.

 As the JamRockerz Basketball Classic progresses, all eyes will be on the remaining matchups as teams battle for the coveted championship title. With strong performances from both local and international teams, the stage is set for an exciting conclusion to this inaugural tournament.

A Jamaica U17 basketball team left the island on Tuesday for the USA to compete in the Marquee Hoops NCAA sanctioned AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) tournament which will take place from July 5-7 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

According to head of delegation Wayne Dawkins, this is an extraordinary milestone for Jamaica’s basketball as it is the first time that a youth basketball team from Jamaica has been invited to compete in an AAU tournament in America.

The trip was organized by Dawkins of P.H.A.S.E. 1 Academy and technical director/head coach of Jamaica's Under 17 team. He will be joined by a coaching staff of Dave Black, Phil Edwards and Rohan Ferguson.

The team will use the opportunity to gain valuable development experience as well as help to prepare the selected players who will represent Jamaica in the FIBA Centro Basket Championship in Belize from July 25 to 30.

The 15 players were selected from P.H.A.S.E. 1 Academy players as well as members of the Jamaica U17 training cohort from the four training regions across the island.

The selected players are:

St. James - Kamau Dennis, Joshua Ferguson, Nathan Thompson, Christian Andom, Gabrielle Scalamana, Alexander Corrodus and Nyle McCalla.

Manchester - Elijah Smeike and Johnathan Beckford.

St. Catherine - Ajani Walters

Kingston - Shaquayne Elliot, Antoine Daye, Joel Hamm, Zachery Smith and Kyro McCalla.

The Jamaica Basketball Association (JaBA) has appointed of Wayne Dawkins as the Technical Director for the U17 National Team programme.

A basketball coach with over 30 years’ experience and founder of P.H.A.S.E. 1 Academy, Dawkins will be tasked with shaping the future of Jamaican basketball and nurturing young talents on the national stage.

As the technical director, Dawkins will assume a range of key responsibilities aimed at strengthening the U17 National Team programme. He is also expected to play a pivotal role in assisting in the recruitment of coaches, creating effective playing systems and providing best practices for coaching development as well as assisting with scouting and talent identification.

Among his first assignments will be preparing the U17 boys team for the upcoming 2023 Centrobasket U17 Championship in Belize.

“The level of talent we have in Jamaica, both locally and internationally, is more than enough to create an explosion of Jamaican basketball and establish our nation as a perennial global basketball power,” Dawkins said.

“I am excited to work with the young athletes and help them realize their full potential."

Paulton Gordon, President of the Jamaica Basketball Association, said the association has great expectations of the newly appointed technical director.

"We are honoured to welcome Wayne Dawkins to the Jamaica Basketball Association. Wayne's wealth of experience and dedication to the sport make him an invaluable addition to our team. With his leadership, we have great expectations for the success and growth of our U17 National Team programme," Gordon said.

The P.H.A.S.E 1 Academy is set to commence try-outs for Jamaican men’s and women’s tour teams on today, Sunday, May 14, from 12 pm-3 pm and 3 pm-6 pm respectively, at the GC Foster College in Spanish Town, St Catherine.

The try-outs are open to all aspiring basketball players seeking to take their game to the next level and pave a path towards professional basketball careers.

The women will be participating in the upcoming H.E.R. Time is Now Pro Tour and the Men in the Elite 1 Caribbean Basketball League (E1CBL) Men’s Pro Showcase. Both events with be held on August 1-6 at Montego Bay Community College in St. James.

This extraordinary opportunity serves as a gateway to success by offering participants the ability to compete against other local talents in an effort secure professional contracts with E1CBL teams for the upcoming fall season.

"We believe in the power of basketball to transform lives and provide a pathway to success," said Dave Black, director at P.H.A.S.E. 1 Academy, while expressing the team's vision for the tryouts.

"P.H.A.S.E. 1 Academy is committed to nurturing talent and providing young players with the opportunity to develop their skills, compete against other basketball talent and potentially secure professional contracts. This is an exciting moment for Jamaican basketball, and we can't wait to witness the remarkable talent that will emerge from these try-outs.

The E1CBL is dedicated to nurturing talent and providing a platform for aspiring male and female basketball players to play professionally on a global stage. With a robust travel schedule that spans from June to October this year, chosen players will have the unique opportunity to go head-to-head with top-tier local and international opponents, gaining invaluable experience and exposure in the process.

The tryouts will be overseen by a panel of seasoned coaching staff with extensive experience in the basketball world. Participants are encouraged to bring their A-game, showcase their talent, athleticism, and teamwork to impress the panel. Registration for the try-outs is will be onsite at GC Foster College. Interested players are encouraged to arrive early to secure their spots, as availability is limited.

Participants may also contact Wayne Dawkins at (876)-289-3912 for more information.

Organiser of the P.H.A.S.E 1 Elite 1 Caribbean Basketball League Wayne Dawkins says he’s looking at expanding the league to the rest of the Caribbean in the future.

The P.H.A.S.E 1 E1 CBL was held from August 13-20 at the National Arena in Kingston, Jamaica. It featured four teams comprised of professionals from Jamaica, Barbados, USA and Canada and saw excellent crowd support throughout.

“We want to do big things for basketball in Jamaica and the Caribbean,” said Dawkins in an interview with Sportsmax.TV on Saturday.

“Absolutely. We still have to perfect this and then, as that happens, we can expand it to the rest of the Caribbean but it really starts with the product that we’re able to perfect right here in Jamaica,” he added.

With this in mind, Dawkins also outlined the amount of work that goes into putting on a basketball league.

 “It’s an immense amount of work. You have to recruit players, think about player management, finding and developing staff. Identify venues, all the different production partners, sales, marketing and everything. All those divisions require a lot of coordination and a lot of work,” he said.

Jamaica’s Women’s basketball team received a welcome cash boost on Saturday as they continue preparations for the Caribbean Basketball Championship set to tip off in Cuba on July 13.