Some two years ago we started the program with a modest eleven primary and prep schools from the cooperate area, but since then have increase the number to some sixty schools across three parishes. It might be of interest to note that girls and boys are allowed to share the same court, playing as teammates.

Among the participating schools are:

From Kingston; Vaz Prep, Hellel Prep, Liberty Prep, Mona Prep, St. Peter and Paul Prep, Covenant Prep, Mavisville Prep, Mana Primary, Holy Family Primary, Jessie Ripoll Primary, Mountain View Primary, Excelsior Primary, Dupont Primary, St. Peter Claver Primary.

From Spanish Town: St. Catherine Prep, St Catherine Primary, and St. Jago Prep, Crescent Primary, Angels Primary, Spanish Town Primary, Ensome Primary, St Johns Primary, McAleys Primary and Eltham Park Primary.

From Old Harbour: Old Harbour Primary

After a very intensive training programme for players and coaches, the team participated in a spirited competition first at the parish level and finally at the regional level. Holy Family emerges as overall champion in 2003 and Dupont Primary emerges as the overall champion in 2004.

At present a very ambitious calendar of event is set-up to maintain the growth of the program and to encourage more schools from other parishes to join in.

We wish to thank the efforts of INSPORTS, WYNLEE TRADING, PARENTS, and JABA for their support to keep the program alive.

High Schools Basketball Programme

The club league program truly defines the growth and development of local basketball. From a single divisional league based n Kingston, the league has now spread its tentacles across five designated regions or Conferences.

The club leagues are divides into several categories namely female Open, Division One Regional and the National Basketball League.

The Regional league proves the feeder programmes for the NBL, which entertains the top ten elite teams. Most of our Players for the National Teams are develop through this league.

The association through its wisdom have divided the island into five regions or Conferences in order to decentralized the workload and pay more specific attention to the entire island. Within each conference there is a Division one league that is rated as the top league regionally that attract the best local players. The league serves to identify and develop players for the regional All Stars team that should eventually filters down into the National programme.

From the Central Conference – Team Aahh and Rainbow Storms

From the Western Conference – Sunrise Blazers and Catherine Hall All Stars

From the Northern Conference – Buckfield United and Mamee Magics

From the Eastern Conference- - Riversdale and Pure Playaz

From the Southern Conference – Braves Warriors, Arnette Gardens Rockers and Swift Sons, Charlemont Magics

The eventual finalists at the regional level will contest for 2 relegated places in the National Basketball League the countries premier club league. The N BL which originally caters for 16 team as now been reduced to 12 to allow for a higher standard of competition. .

Besides High Schools and Colleges, female basketball is mostly concentrated in Kingston. A league that started with a mere 4 teams has now grown to 8 teams namely Waulgrovian Bullets, Lady Panthers, Lady Angels, Braves Smilers, Rae Town and Metro Bells

After many years of domination by the Waulgrovian he Bullets, the 2004 season crowned a new champion in the form of the Lady Panthers in a very exciting best of three series encounter.

The female program has truly been given a ‘raw deal' as the necessary funding to support the program is lacking and therefore very little administrative work is done.

Not with standing the difficulties however, the female has held their own and has contributed tremendously to our recognition both nationally and internationally.

Each year several girls have accepted scholarships and have represented their respective institutions and us well.

At present though the efforts of the association and sponsor DHL, renewed effort has been placed to improve and lend more support to the program. They are been encouraged to start at an earlier age in the high schools The females out in the rural parishes are also being mobilized to start their own club league.

The National Basketball League NBL is considered the top club league in the country. The league which started some 35 years ago still attracts not only the top local based players but all players of National decent who which to compete at the highest level. It therefore set up the platform for players to be seen for possible selection to the National team.

At present the league consist of a mandated 12 teams namely Tivoli All Stars, Blazing Panthers, Denham Town Wizards, Slayers, Buckfield United, West Cumberland Flame, Linkup All Stars, Rae Town Raptors, Urban Knights, Rebels, Harbour View Lakers and Braves Chiefs

The league is open to team from all conferences providing they reach the qualifying standard that is winning the National Qualifying League.

Over the years the championship trophy have change several hands. The present champions are the Urban Knights who took over the reign from 4 times champion the Tivoli All Stars.

The NBL formerly the Berger Paints Division One League is developing into a true spectacle of the highest standard with a new thrust after attracting major sponsorship from Cable and Wireless and Restaurant of Jamaica. Local basketball is now being carried live on local Cable television, the game are played indoor and presented with an attractive entertainment package that is pulling that whole the family to watch the games.

Additional efforts to have the game carried on the free to air television station are now in progress. This would allow for wider viewers hips across the country hereby attracting a larger audience.

The Star Search Basketball and Life Skills Development camp was formally launched in 2001 to create yet another platform where the island's best young basketball players can showcase and develop their talents. Players hoping to gain overseas scholarships, and explore the numerous possibilities which the sports has to offer, come together for one week full of fun and excitement in a residential environment conducive to extracting the best from each youngster. The camp is a joint initiative between the JaBA and the US based Jamaica Basketball Development Inc. (JBD Inc.) The JBD Inc. is comprised of past Jamaica national representatives that are generously donating their resources to assist with the development of our youngsters.

Present Jamaicans on scholarship in the USA return to the island at this time to share their experiences and pass on new knowledge gained. Once again, the star search and life skills development camp was a huge success. Some 120 youth between ages 13 - 20 from across the island participated in the 5 days camp.

This years camp saw scholarship holders Mugabe Thomas- Cedarville University,, Kevin Young- Missouri University, Damion Staples and Dwayne Brown – South-eastern Illinois University and Dwayne Brown sharing with them. The camp was held at the prestigious GC Foster College indoor court facility and modern sporting infrastructure.

Top local coaches was joined by overseas coaches to share their knowledge and scout for talents. Some of coaches that have visited the camp includes coach Todd Franklyn – South-eastern Illinois, Coach Thomas – University of Rio Grande, coach Mike Boyd – Penn State University

In the past several international stars have visited the camp. Top among them of course is NBA superstar Patrick Ewing who was willing to sit and share with the kids.

Again some 8 campers received scholarship and are now based in the USA. They are:

Rodney James, Tigana Cain, Kadia Kentish, Hugh Robinson, Tamika Lamonious, Monita Anderson, Daneil Rose, Jason Francis and Samado Samuels.

In addition a special feature at the camp is the inclusion of the Life Skill Development feature that seeks to develop the total person and not just basketball skills.