This approach, in my opinion, is a win-win situation, as it guarantees that many of our future young basketball prospects will now have the opportunity of improving on their athletic skills while at the University, and also acquiring valuable academic skills that will last a lifetime.

UB Black Jaguars, as they are known, is a group of fine young basketball players who, aside from the veteran players, when combined carry an average age of 21 years. National Team head coach, Kevin Siroki, assisted by players/coaches Kirk ?Shabba? Smith, Claude ?Too Tall? Jones, and Darren Bovell, are the coaching staff, while Harry Lui, Jr., and Paco Smith head the management team.

At first glance most would expect that a Kevin Siroki led team, having the services of the aforementioned Smith, Bovell, Jones and Byron ?Shackles? Flowers at his disposal, would give opponents a heavy dosage of these veterans each night. But this is not so. Siroki?s starting lineup will have two rookies in it, namely, Lennox Cayetano playing the five position and Tyrone Castillo at shooting guard. Sophomores Lindbergh Graham and Christian Rodriguez will play the point and small forward position, respectively, while the veteran Kirk Smith will start at the four.

Lindbergh Graham, a player who is fundamentally sound having been a pupil of the Matthew Smiling/Fred Gabourel school of basketball, will give the Black Jaguars hustle and tenacity at the point, and while not the conventional prototype point guard, will be adequate at this position and could come into his own this year. He will be spelled by another rookie in Gary Francisco, hailing from the southern district of Stann Creek.

At the two position, Tyrone Castillo is said to be an up and coming shooter with great range. Being a rookie, however, he will certainly have to prove that he can shoot with defenders in his face. He will be backed up by freshman Wordsworth Lucas, another rookie trying to make a name in the league, and Anthony Lucas of Delille Academy.

Christian Rodriguez, formerly of Belmopan, will start at the three. The veteran Bovell, who needs no introduction, will be available if he should falter. We all know what Darren brings to the table, while Marcel Orosco, another outstanding shooter, should give further depth at the position.

At the four the Jaguars will be in the capable hands of Kirk Smith, who will bring much needed experience and size to the lineup, along with shot blocking capabilities. The performances of rookies Benedict Terry and Isani Enriquez will be key to UB?s success, because Kirk, being in the twilight of his career, will not be effective logging heavy minutes as he once did.

The UB lineup will be anchored in the middle by rookie center Lennox Cayetano, a youngster who, according to our sources, is a very good player with lots of potential. He will be spelled by 6? 10? Claude Jones, who was acquired by way of a trade with Orange Walk involving Kelvin ?Kelly B? Gillett.

Lennox Bowman, another of the UB young guns who was supposed to be UB?s starting shooting guard is out for the entire year following a shoulder injury.

In a conversation with head coach Siroki, he indicated to me that they will employ a motion offense geared at utilizing the size of their front court players. He went on to say that he is confident that if Smith can score about 15 to 20 points nightly, his team should be in good shape. He is certain that the other players will be able to make up the difference. On defense he hopes to play a solid man to man, emphasizing pressure and stressing fundamentals. He is ecstatic about his size up front and believes that with Smith, Jones, Bovell, Cayetano, and Terry, opponents will have problems scoring inside. At the same time he believes that he will be no pushover either on the perimeter, given his team?s athletic abilities.

His team?s weakness, which is inexperience, quite ironically, according to him, could be their strength. Being a young team and not expected to win could work to their advantage. Some opponents may be taken by surprise.

The Black Jaguars of UB are a unique bunch, a mixture of youth and old school, led by one of Belize?s great motivators and teachers of the game in Kevin Siroki. This is their edge. The question is whether or not this combination will be able to work on the court when things do not go as expected, when the going gets tough. Veteran players such as Smith, Bovell, and Jones and, to a certain extent, their head coach, who have all been accustomed to winning, may then find out that losing isn?t quite to their liking.

That said, it is important that UB get out of the blocks early and record some early wins. This would do wonders for their young core?s confidence.