The High schools basketball programme is one of the pioneer programmes for basketball in Jamaica. In the early 60's, basketball was introduced in the island through the high schools. At the time, only about four schools mainly from the cooperate area participated in the league. At present some seventy high schools from nearly every parish are affiliated to the programme, which covers several categories. The categories include boy's under19, boy's under16, boy's under14 and girls open. A proposal is now being tabled to add yet an additional category that of the girls under14.

Among the top participating schools are:

From the Western Conference: Cornwall College, ST. James High, Anchovy High, Muschette High, Merelene Ottey High and Green Island High.

From Central Conference: Old Harbour High, Manchester High, Knox High, Munro High, Belair High, Lennon High, Glenmuir High, Marcus Garvey High, Christiana High and Belfield High.

From Northern Conference: Ocho Rios High, Charlemont High, Browns Town High, Fern court High, York Castle High, Gavey Maseo High.

From Eastern Conference: Port Antonio High, Cedric Titus High, St. Thomas Technical.

From Southern Conference: Kingston College, Calabar High, Wolmers High, Jamaica College, St. Georges College, Camper down High, Excelsior high, St Catherine High, Bridge port HIGH, greater Portmore High, Waterford High, St Andrew Technical High, Tivoli High, Hellel High, Ardenne High, Campion College and Jose Marti High.

So far the urban-based schools have dominated the league but there are strong evidence to show that their rural based counterparts are catching up. At present the National Champion is Calabar in the senior, St Georges College in the under-14 and under-16 and Alpha in the female division.

The successes in the high school programme have been tremendous. In the last ten years at least ten scholarships per year have been awarded to our juvenile players (girls and boys) who participated in the programme. Our National juvenile team have been quite outstanding, counting among the top 2 in the region in the last eight years. We must applaud the support of main sponsor KFC for funding the under16 and under19 program and the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association for supporting the other un-sponsored divisions.

The Inter Secondary Schools Sports Association with technical assistant from the Jamaica Basketball Association the sports governing body controls high school basketball. It is the belief of the sports governing body that still there is a lot more that could be done to improved the program within the schools. Their suggestions were tabled to ISSA for consideration and implementation in the coming season.