PRESIDENT of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) Nigel Hinds confirmed that he has reached out to the Clippers point guard Darren Collison to represent the Land of Many Waters at this year’s Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship set for the British Virgin Island (BVI), July 1-12. 

“We have reached out to him but as it is right now, he’s focusing on the play-offs and winning that NBA championship with the Clippers” Hinds told Chronicle Sport in an exclusive interview.
The 26-year-old Collison, son of former national athletes Dennis and June Collison, is All-Star Chris Paul’s back-up at the point guard position and scored 18 points; 12 of which he netted in the fourth quarter to help the Clippers level their Western Conference semi-final series 2-2 against the Oklahoma Thunders recently.
Hinds noted that to have Collison will certainly be a plus for the national team, not only to give them a chance to win the tournament, but also to help boost the morale of the players; since it should show them that they are just as talented to rub shoulders with some of the best players in the world.
The recently elected Hinds said that he’s patiently awaiting a response from Collison and the GABF will move ahead and include the NBA player on their roster for the Championship which is just two months away.
Meanwhile, Hinds said that at present the GABF budget stands at $12M. $6M is needed for each team to attend the prestigious championship and they have reached out to both the public and private sector for assistance.
“We’ve had some discussions with the business community and I must say that it has been very promising though none has confirmed anything. We’re hoping that everything is sorted out in the very near future so we can begin the process,” Hinds said.
He added: “I have spoken to the Government as well who indicated their willingness to help us but said to us that we should see how much the corporate community puts up and they will probably offset the balance; but as it is, we’re looking to move ahead with the visa process for the players who will be named after this Inter-Association tournament. We’re hopeful of everything working out in our favour.”
Collison was drafted 21st overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Hornets, getting the nod ahead of players like Taj Gibson and Danny Green but behind the likes of Stephen Curry, Blake Griffin, James Harden, Ricky Rubio, just to name a few. Collison played alongside Chris Paul before he (Paul) was traded to the Clippers.
The nifty point guard was eventually traded to the Pacers and then onto Dallas where he was the starting point guard for the Mark Cuban-owned team after Jason Kidd left to join the New York Knicks.
In July of 2013, Collison signed with the Clippers where he teamed up once again with Paul and started 18 games in his (Paul) absence with the LA-based team going 12-6 with the former UCLA standout in the backcourt.
Thanks to his parents, Collison has always kept close to his family in Guyana even making several trips whenever his busy basketball life permits.

(By Rawle Toney)