Tim Duncan Plays Basketball At Home In Support Of Hood Hoops Revival; Honored With Plaque From VI Government

ST. THOMAS — NBA Basketball legend and Virgin Islands native Tim Duncan took to the court at the UVI Sports and Fitness Center here on Saturday for a friendly game organized by Sun Stroke Promotions. The game enjoyed a full house of Virgin Islanders, many of whom came out to see the retired Duncan play the game that made him — and in many respects the Virgin Islands — famous.

According to Rashidi Clenance, founder of Sun Stroke Promotions and a close friend of Mr. Duncan’s, the proceeds of the game will go towards the revival of the Hood Hoops Inter-neighborhood Youth Basketball League, which will be presented by Sun Stroke Promotions and the Virgin Islands Police Department. It is expected that the league will be help steer impressionable youth toward a path of discipline and success.

The basketball game started just after 7:30 p.m. and ended about 9:30 p.m. — seemingly in a blink. The home team included Mr. Duncan and other Virgin Islanders, while the guest team featured players a Sun Stroke Promotions release described as “some of the best streetball players on the planet.”

Tim Duncan was honored on Saturday night by the VI Government. The Plaque was presented by 32nd Legislature President Myron Jackson, seen left of Mr. Duncan. (Ernice Gilbert, VIC)

The release was right. While both teams were in the double digits by the game’s end, it was the streetball team that took the win, with Randy Gill, called “White Chocolate”, scoring over 50 points — many of them three pointers.

Even so, the loss was an afterthought; Virgin Islanders came out to see their superstar in real life play basketball on a real court right before their eyes. It was an opportunity of a lifetime for many.

Following the game, Mr. Duncan was honored by the Government of the Virgin Islands, with 32nd Legislature Senate President Myron Jackson presenting a plaque while reading out the contents of a bill signed into law in honor of  the basketball hall of fame inductee. Mr. Duncan was all smiles while receiving the plague, and seemed to have enjoyed the friendly match.

Yesterday’s All VI Hoop Classic — which also showcases the USVI’s best budding basketball players and gives them an opportunity to be seen by basketball scouts — was the first played on St. Thomas since Mr. Clenance started the effort 19 years ago. The Classic had taken place on St. Croix for the past 18 years because the games are played during the second week of April, which is an NCAA recruiting window, to avoid VI Carnival conflicts in St. Thomas, according to the Sun Stroke Promotions release. It was brought to St. Thomas this year because “there was nowhere on the island to play due to the storms,” the release said.