Cory McGee remains dedicated to boosting Cayman basketball.
The former European pro player was in Cayman last month to work with local junior players. In particular, he assisted with the Cayman Islands Basketball Association’s youth development programme at Kings Sports Centre. McGee states he will be back soon.
“I arrived in Cayman four days before Valentine’s and left around the 20th,” McGee said. “I have been visiting the Cayman Islands for a few years now. I have developed very good relationships with players, parents and people in the community.
“I stay in contact with friends and enjoy the culture here. My purpose was to get some sunshine and continue to build on the existing friendships.
“I will continue to support Coach Victor ‘Voot’ O’Garro and his vision for the development of basketball from a grassroots perspective. Having spent time at the basketball academy, I can truly see a lot of upcoming players, both male and female. I enjoy exchanging basketball ideas and concepts with the various coaches on Island.”
McGee, 40, is an American based in England. The Tampa, Florida native has made contributions to British basketball in recent years, setting up academies in places such as Surrey.
His first official visit to Cayman came in 2011 when he worked with members of the national men’s team after lackluster performances at the Island Games in the Isle of Wight and the Caribbean Basketball Confederation Senior Men’s championships in Nassau, Bahamas.
McGee’s time in Cayman last month also came after another uninspiring showing abroad by a local team. The John Gray High School’s boys Under-19 team, which trained at Kings, lost all three of their exhibition games in Nassau. John Gray would end up losing to the Charles Irvin Gibson Senior High School Rattlers, 74-13, private school St. Vincent Stingrays, 36-9 and Aquinas College, 45-34.
Nine players were on the John Gray squad in Rueben Barnes, Joshua Ebanks-Brown, Daviel Foster, Douglas Henkis, Cameron Hydes, Dajon Sibblies, Arin Taylor, Alexander Thompson and Jamel Winton. All were coached by John Gray teacher Errol Grey, with national men’s coach Daniel Augustine helping to train the squad.
McGee could be bringing more than knowledge on his next trip to Cayman. He is currently marketing a line of basketball jewellery to National Basketball Association stars to garner attention for his company.
“Hoopla has attracted the attention of a few celebrities. Watch this space, Hoopla is on the rise. L.E.A.P Basketball and I are changing the world, one dribble at a time,” he said.
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