BELIZE CITY, Wed. May 29, 2019– The Future Shock basketball team of Belize, owned and managed by the legendary basketball star Clinton “Pulu” Lightburn of Belize City, has opened doors to opportunities for talented Belizean basketball players from ages 12 to 19.
Through the team’s efforts and collaboration with ABC Basketball Club of Quintana Roo, Mexico, the Universidad de Puebla, a leading university in Mexico, has offered 4 full basketball scholarships to gifted Belizean athletes to study at the university in any area of their choice. The university is the only institution that offers scholarships from Prep to Master’s degree level.
Lightburn said that officials who saw the Belize players on the basketball court were impressed with their skills and offered scholarships to help the athletes to be successful.
Lightburn, who is a nationalist, said that he did not restrict the offer of the scholarships to his team and opened the opportunity to other clubs so that they could also benefit.
The players will commence their studies this summer. The announcement was made yesterday by Lightburn.
The four scholarship recipients are Nisan Martinez, 12, a female student of Orange Walk Town who completes her primary school studies in June, and will begin her high school program in Puebla; Luis Sosa, 13, male; Evan Welch, 14, male; and Clinton Shaw, 19, male.
Lightburn said that he is overjoyed about the opportunity that has been given to these four young athletes, adding that Martinez is the youngest Belizean to ever receive an international basketball scholarship, from prep to Master’s. He said that Clinton Shaw, from Orange Walk, is projected as the starting point guard for the Universidad De Puebla.
Lightburn said that Universidad de Puebla stated that four scholarships will be granted annually to four outstanding youths of Belize who exhibit the same level of discipline and skills as the four who received the awards this year.
Lightburn said that his team participates in basketball matches in Mexico and Central America and is so far undefeated in Mexico. He said scouts in the region saw their talent and were very impressed with their skills.
After Future Shock defeated the Universidad De Puebla Prep Team in Merida, officials from the university sent a coach from the university to Quintana Roo, where the team was playing, and offered the four scholarships to the outstanding players.
Lightburn said he is happy that his team opened the door.