Girls basketball squad in need of sponsorship

(CNS): Coming off of a successful June training camp that Cayman's Women of Valour basketball squad attended at Nova Southeastern University, the team is preparing to send players to two more, but is in need of donations to make it possible. One of the organisors, Ray Doxey, is calling for sponsorships or scholarships for the athletes and siad they were hoping to be able to take at least 10 players from the Women of Valor squad to attend both of these camps.

First they will attend the Elite Camp II at Nova University on 3-4 August. A squad of five young ladies attended the Elite Camp I in early June, and had good feedback from the coaches. Doxey said it was important in the players' development to return to Nova to show the coaching staff there how much they have improved after their summer practices, gym and track workouts here in Cayman under the direction of Coach Redver and Coach Billy.

Next up would be the Palm Beach Atlantic & Elev8/Ganon Baker Elite Camp on 7-9 August. Doxey said that not only was this is an important development camp for the players but the exposure was also very important for recruitment into universities. One 16-year-old player already caught the attention of scouts at an earlier PBAU camp and has received a letter of interest from Penn State University, so exposing the players has positive results, he said.

In between camps, games between local Florida teams and Cayman's squad are being set up in attempts to spur development, training and exposure to meeting other like-minded athletes. The previous visit in June saw the girls also touring Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, which was led by the school principal, Dr Christine Higgins, who spoke to the team about athletics as well as the importance of being a well-rounded student and being involved in other school and community activities, which is what universities are looking for today.

"The squad is seeking sponsor/donations to make this trip a reality. Knowing the tough times we are all currently facing, fund raising has been tough. But seeing the young ladies develop and perhaps get some overseas scholarships (which would not cost the government anything) is something that is in all our best interest for the future," Doxey said.