In a captivating sit-down interview, Romareo Millis, Micah-Imani, and Derjean Royal, three standout players from P.H.A.S.E. 1 Academy Jamaica's post-grad team, offered a revealing glimpse into their transformative journey. As pioneers in Jamaica's basketball landscape, these young athletes shared their experiences of venturing into the heart of American basketball culture for the first time. The trio spoke passionately about adapting to a completely different environment, navigating a distinct style of play, and embracing the challenges of competing on the international stage.
0:00 - Introduction
0:54 - Grateful For The Opportunity
1:04 - Best Basketball Experience Ever
1:45 - Derjean's Goal to Play Professional Basketball
2:54 - Micah-Imani Dream to play NCAA Basketball
4:32 - Romareo's Goal to Play in the NBA
5:25 - Derjean's First Started Playing in Old Harbour
6:07 - Micah-Imani First Started Playing at Campion HS
6:48 - Romareo Being From Clarendon
7:58 - How Did You All Meet?
10:00 - What is the Biggest Difference From Playing in Jamaica than in the USA?
12:41 - The Major Difference is the Competition
14:02 - How Do the Conditions Affect Your Style of Play?
15:18 - We Plateau Early in Jamaica
17:10 - The Way How We Plateau is We Have No Competition After High School
18:12 - First Different Experience After High School Was Playing in the E1CBL
20:38 - How To Contact Us
21:32 - Outtakes Do You Remember the Questions?
The P.H.A.S.E. 1 Academy Jamaica Prep and AAU team, a groundbreaking initiative in the country, serves as a beacon for recent high school graduates seeking unique opportunities to hone their basketball skills and gain exposure to college coaches and scouts. With an unwavering commitment to maximizing exposure for Jamaican youth, the program crafted an extensive travel itinerary, taking the team through the basketball hotspots of Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and New York. This ambitious journey exposed the players to diverse playing styles and provided a platform for them to showcase their talents in front of college coaches actively scouting for fresh talent.
At the heart of the interview was the players' shared vision of fine-tuning their skills and competing at a higher level to enhance their college prospects. The post-grad team, conceived as a crucial stepping stone, emerges as a pivotal platform for these aspiring athletes in their quest to secure collegiate basketball opportunities and elevate their basketball careers. As they reflected on the challenges and triumphs of their unique journey, Romareo, Micah-Imani, and Derjean embodied the spirit of determination and resilience that defines P.H.A.S.E. 1 Academy's transformative impact on the future of Jamaican basketball.