In one of the most exciting events on the local semi-pro basketball calendar other than an actual ball game, the highly anticipated 2005 semi-pro draft, the first of its kind in Belize, went off without a hitch on Wednesday night at the National Sports Council conference room in front of a charged up audience.

Grading the draft is tricky business and being in my shoes as the GM for the Belize Bank Ltd. basketball franchise, and also the fact that I am the basketball correspondent for the country?s leading newspaper, make it even trickier. While I am sure that there will be disagreement regarding my grades, I nevertheless will proceed.

My grades are based on several key factors that I feel are important for any team wishing to start a franchise from scratch. The first such key is the ability of that team to acquire a franchise player or team leader. The second key factor is getting an established point guard. Thirdly, teams must ensure that they will be able to get their share of rebounds. The best players in the world will score about 55% of their shots and the best teams will score, on average, about 45% of their shots. So, even at the top level you can see that almost half the shots are missed, and therefore rebounded. In our semi-pro, between 60 to 70% of the shots will miss, thus the reason why I put a lot of emphasis on rebounding. Mind you, though, you do not have to be very tall or be able to jump very high to be a natural rebounder. It is very much a question of using the right technique to get to the ball and take possession. After all, 90% of all rebounds are taken from below the height of the rim. The fourth and final factor I will use is player skills, experience and, importantly, team chemistry.

University of Belize

UB?s management got its main man, Kirk ?Shabba? Smith, who has been a household name in Belize?s semi-pro basketball ever since its inception in 1992. Obviously management felt that while Kirk may

not be at the same level he was at 5 years ago, he in their minds is still durable and gives them that solid big man down low. He will be complemented by the likes of Mr. MVP Darren Bovell, who keeps putting up, if not spectacular, adequate numbers. They also addressed their backcourt by acquiring Kelvin ?Kelly B? Gillett, who should prosper in the UB system. They also got the youngsters they wanted in Christian Rodriguez and Lindsberg Graham. The selection of Byron ?Shackles? Flowers is puzzling. I give them a B+ for their effort.

BTL Nets

Charles Ellis obviously was thinking along my lines, and instead of choosing the infallible Keith Acosta, went with Kurt Burgess as his first round pick. Burgess, who probably is the closest to the definition of an all around player (he scores, rebounds, can bring the ball up the court, block shots and play defense), is now clearly the leader of the BTL franchise and will not only have to prove himself on the court but will also need to become a more vocal leader on his team. If he is not able to do this, though, he will have the luxury of relying on the veteran Ian ?AC? Augustine, who can still bring it with the best of them in terms of tenacity and rebounding.

After their second round pick, however, BTL appeared to draft on the basis of sentiments rather than filling the immediate needs of their team. The acquisitions of Paul Swasey and Leroy Forbes have basically left the defending champs in a quandary with too many players who play the same position and who bring the same type of game. Instead of addressing a glaring weakness in the backcourt, they chose Swasey and Forbes, and as a last minute resort chose Rennick Reneau as their starting point man. Very interesting. I give them a B grade.

The Belize Bank Ltd

The Belize Bank Ltd, the newest and youngest franchise in the league, could not have asked for a better draft core. While they were unable to land a big man and will obviously look foreign to fill that hole, they nevertheless had a successful night. They were able to land one of the young and upcoming superstars in the league – Darwin ?Puppy? Leslie, and to top it off land Belize?s best point man in Mark ?Quickie? Bainton to man its backcourt. In addition, they were able to address their shooting guard needs by acquiring veteran Aubrey Lopez, slashers and proven scorers in Ian ?Penny? Ferrera and Charles Thompson. The night did not end there for the bank, however. With their fourth pick they were able to steal the player I consider a sleeper in the draft – the young and energetic Eden Serrano, who will surprise and come back to haunt a lot of opponents and general managers who passed him up. I give them a B+.

Corozal

Corozal?s draft choices were predictable, as stated in last week?s article. They chose the local kid, Andre Almendarez, as their first round pick, and followed that up by plugging their middle with the powerful Ernest Broaster. They addressed their shooting guard position by then selecting Roger Favela, who can still light it up with the best of them. After their third pick, however, Corozal basically scaled back and instead of choosing the best available players, chose Jason Daly, Shane Sebastian and Evan Salazar, relatively unknown and unproven players in the league who they felt would fit into their scheme of things. I give them a B- grade.

San Pedro

As one might expect, the San Pedro brass was elated to have been able to land the league?s reigning MVP as far down as #5. Can you imagine Keith Acosta being drafted #5 behind Smith, Burgess, Leslie and Almendarez? Do not be misguided – the pronouncement of his demise has been greatly exaggerated. I expect Keith to flourish with his new team and put up MVP numbers. The change of scenery was just what the doctor ordered following his well known falling out with the Nets? management and head coach. Keith will be joined by a budding young star in Stephen Williams. But after Williams there is not much to talk about, and Keith, while ecstatic to be going to the island, will find himself many nights wishing that he had stayed put. John Rhys, Devon Lozano, Carlisle Barrow and Roscoe Rhys are no AC Augustine, Darwin Leslie, or Darren Bovell, his teammates from his last championship team. I give this team a B- grade.

Orange Walk

Orange Walk, who at this time may be feeling a little heat from some of the players that they drafted, for all intents and purposes had a very respectable draft night. They were able to acquire the tallest man in the league, Claude ?Too Tall? Jones; and while Claude may at this point in time be a bit reluctant to be with Orange Walk, the fact is that they have the right to him. In addition, they picked up one of Belize?s best pure shooters in Lester Cadle and one of the more hard-nosed players in the veteran Bart Sanchez. The selections of Albert Alvarez and Marlon Myers can only bode well for this team. Management will have to somehow convince the disgruntled Jones and Cadle that the ?Sugar City? is the place to be. I give them a B grade.