Jamaican-born taking pictures guard Jelanie Morgan, a junior at Lesley College in Massachusetts, is again on the island with a dream: to characterize his nation on the worldwide basketball stage.
Morgan, who comes from the famend Morgan Heritage musical household, is at the moment vying for a spot on the Jamaican nationwide males’s group forward of the FIBA Americas Males’s World Cup Qualifiers in Mexico this August.
Morgan, who stands at 6 ft 4 inches, educated with the nationwide squad on the Nationwide Stadium on July 5 and 6, collaborating in participant evaluations, taking pictures drills, and scrimmages. “With the ability to check out for the nationwide group for an opportunity to characterize my nation is a dream come true for me. I’ve been engaged on it for some time now, and to see it come collectively is surreal,” he informed the Jamaica Observer.
Greater than only a participant, Morgan views himself as a cultural ambassador for Jamaica—on and off the court docket. He says his mission is to assist put Jamaica on the worldwide basketball map whereas additionally inspiring a brand new era of Jamaican athletes to dream greater, prepare more durable, and consider they’ll make their mark internationally, simply as his musical household has executed in reggae music.
Past basketball, Morgan is keen about mentorship and group upliftment, usually partaking with youthful gamers and advocating for self-discipline, schooling, and cultural satisfaction. He believes that sport could be a highly effective device for connection and alter, not solely in Jamaica however internationally.
Jelanie Morgan is one among a number of faculty {and professional} gamers hoping to safe a spot on the nationwide squad. Up to now, he has performed 26 video games for Lesley College within the NCAA, compiling 225 minutes and 35 factors.
Jamaica’s highway to the FIBA World Cup continues with an eight-day coaching camp in Miami from July 29 to August 5, as remaining preparations get underway.
