P.H.A.S.E.1's first academy in Barbados is located in Wildey St. Micheal
The timing could not be better for P.H.A.S.E.1 to establish its first academy in Barbados. This is according to former national basketball player and Patreon of the Pinelands Basketball Club, Patrick Tannis.
Tannis partnered with P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy’s founder Wayne Dawkins to bring the first academy to Wildey St Micheal, Barbados. He said the academy will help to boost the sport’s momentum which has dwindled significantly over the years.
Former national basketball player and Patreon of the Pinelands Basketball Club, Patrick Tannis
“Prior to COVID, the sport was suffering. You weren’t getting any large crowds, the officiating was horrible, and then COVID came and wiped out the entire momentum. What worked to keep the sport alive in the minds of the people was the ability to turn on your television and see something happening in the NBA,” he said.
Tannis says young Barbadian basketball players possess the natural athleticism for the sport and will only stand to benefit from this academy’s establishment.
“It’s the missing link that Barbados basketball needed. The honing of those skills along with the athleticism is a blessing for the Barbadian players,” he said. “Because of the specific leadership that the academy has in Wayne Dawkins, in my view, he understands what is required at this time to build in Barbados. I think he is strategically placed based on his wisdom, his skills, and his ability to hone the skills of the Barbadian players.”
Barbadian athletes are naturally athletic
Meanwhile, Dawkins who has established basketball academies in Jamaica, Burundi, Canada, and the United States, says Barbados was chosen as the next location because of P.H.A.S.E.1’s commitment to supporting basketball development in the Caribbean.
“Strategically, we want to continue to support more Caribbean countries and connect them in basketball through competition and other events that we might have,” he said.
Founder and CEO of P.H.A.S.E.1 Academy, Wayne Dawkins
“We’re looking to expose youth basketball players to higher levels of training and development and competition and give the Caribbean an opportunity to experience what North America has in terms of youth sports and the social, financial, and physical benefits of it.”
He also shared that he was very impressed with the talent pool in the Eastern Caribbean country.
“Basketball in Barbados is very good. They are very skilled at the guard position. They are very skilled and have a lot of potential to produce very high-level guards,” he said.