MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica (April 29, 2008) – The sporting genius of Jamaicans is admirable and should be developed into educational opportunities, said former professional NBA basketball player Zack Jones who is currently in Jamaica conducting sporting clinics in the Montego Bay area.
The San Diego-based Jones, who played in the NBA for both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New Jersey Nets, said that Jamaica has been blessed with tremendous sporting talent, citing the successful careers of basketballer Patrick Ewing, boxer Lennox Lewis, and world championship sprinters Asafa Powell, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Merlene Ottey.
“The talent among the youth here is tremendous and we should encourage these young people to pursue athletic scholarships in the
“While they develop their academic skills in school they should also discipline themselves on the courts and the playing fields,” suggested Jones, the director of this week’s sports activities for the California-based Miles Ahead, a youth-focused Christian organization, led by former NFL player, Pastor Miles McPherson.
“Sports is a great way to connect with young people and challenges them to make positive life decisions. It brings out passion in the youth. It also inspires them to be a part of something much greater than themselves,” added Jones, a former Division 1 coach for
This week Miles Ahead is conducting medical and sports clinics, deaf education workshops, school assemblies and restoring local elementary schools in the
Miles Ahead is currently on island as part of Jamaica Broilers Group’s 50th anniversary celebrations and three major family-oriented festivals, under the Best Dressed 50 Fest banner, presented in Mandeville, Montego Bay and
McPherson, known for encouraging people of faith to “DO Something” (http://www.therocksandiego.org/dosomething), stands at the forefront of “transformation evangelism” and “ministry mobilization.” In addition to leading the 10,000-strong
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