Meet the Winners: The 2026 Tari Eason Player of the Year Awards for P1A Jamaica🇯🇲

Celebrating the athletes who made their mark—and the support that helped make their season possible.

The 2026 P.H.A.S.E. 1 Academy Jamaica season brought together 73 athletes across six age groups for 70 games of competition.

Our Tari Eason Player of the Year Awards recognise outstanding contributions within each award category. The winners represent different stages of development, but every award celebrates an athlete’s achievements while representing the academy.

The awards are named in honour of Tari Eason, whose support through the Tari Eason Foundation helped create the opportunities behind these performances.

Why These Awards Carry Tari Eason’s Name

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Tari Eason and the Tari Eason Foundation helped the academy return to training and competition following Hurricane Melissa and supported opportunities for our athletes to travel internationally.

The foundation raised US$80,000, including US$75,000 for hurricane relief and US$5,000 to support summer AAU travel for 30 young people from Jamaica.

That contribution helped turn plans into participation: athletes returning to training, travelling with their teammates and gaining experience through competition.

Naming these awards in Tari’s honour recognises that impact while celebrating what our athletes achieved with those opportunities.

U13 Player of the Year: Adam Lawrence

Adam combined scoring, playmaking and exceptional free-throw shooting across eight games.

He recorded 121 points and 29 assists, averaging 15.1 points and 3.6 assists per game. Those averages ranked second and third respectively on the academy’s combined season leaderboard.

His 92.9% free-throw shooting led the academy, adding another distinction to his U13 award-winning season.

U14 Player of the Year: Maliki Payne

Maliki led the academy’s season leaderboard in points per game at 15.7 and three-pointers per game at 1.9.

Across seven games, he recorded 110 points and 20 steals, with his 2.9 steals per game ranking second overall.

His season also included a record-setting performance: 31 points against NJ Beasts, the academy’s highest single-game scoring total of 2026.

U15 Player of the Year: Shamario Dawson

Shamario’s defensive production distinguished his season.

He led the academy with 44 steals and 3.4 steals per game, including a single-game record of nine steals against PA Legends.

Across 13 games, he also contributed 95 points and 49 rebounds, adding scoring and rebounding to his defensive impact.

U16 Player of the Year: Romeo Smith

Romeo contributed across 21 games, recording 113 points, 88 rebounds, 16 steals and 12 assists.

A standout performance against CT Focus produced 24 points and 10 rebounds, demonstrating his ability to contribute both as a scorer and on the glass.

His season earns him recognition as our U16 Tari Eason Player of the Year.

U17 Player of the Year: Kamar Evans

Kamar recorded 121 points and 88 rebounds in 14 games, while finishing second on the academy’s season leaderboard in both blocks, with 24, and field-goal percentage, at 55.3%.

His 21 rebounds against The City established the academy’s season single-game rebounding record.

Efficient finishing, rebounding and shot-blocking were central features of his award-winning campaign.

U18 Player of the Year: Jordan Anderson

Jordan finished as the academy’s joint scoring leader with 185 points and its outright rebounding leader with 102.

Across 20 games, he also contributed 33 assists and 21 steals.

His ability to score from outside was highlighted by five three-pointers against Team BISS, the academy’s season single-game record.

U19 Player of the Year: Lebron Lewinson

Lebron finished at the top of three season categories: 185 points as joint scoring leader, 64 assists and 25 three-pointers made.

He also recorded 64 rebounds and 30 steals across 15 games.

His nine assists against Team BISS set the academy’s season single-game record, adding an individual milestone to a season of scoring and creating for others.

U17 Girls Player of the Year: Kimani Solomon

Kimani recorded 28 points and five three-pointers across four games, averaging 7.0 points per game.

Her 1.2 three-pointers per game ranked fourth on the academy’s combined season leaderboard.

Her award celebrates her contribution to the girls’ programme and her achievements representing P.H.A.S.E. 1 Academy Jamaica.

Academy Leadership Award: Karcia Beezer

Alongside our Player of the Year winners, we recognise Karcia Beezer with the 2026 Academy Leadership Award.

Karcia oversaw film and statistics for all 70 games, watching, managing and breaking down footage so athletes throughout the academy could have their performances documented.

Her contribution extended to leadership on trips, supporting teammates and helping the academy wherever she was needed. Her hard work and dedication in training set an example for others, and she stepped in to play with the boys when they were short-handed.

In four U17 girls’ games, she recorded nine assists and seven steals. Her leadership award recognises the much wider contribution behind those numbers.

Building Opportunities for the Next Generation

Congratulations to every winner, and thank you to the athletes, families, coaches and supporters who contributed to the season.

We extend our gratitude to Tari Eason and the Tari Eason Foundation for helping make these experiences possible.

P.H.A.S.E. 1 Academy Jamaica remains committed to developing players and leaders, creating international opportunities and elevating Jamaican youth basketball globally.

View the full season statistics:https://www.phase1academy.com/travel-teams