By Daniel Haynes

WITH the Under16 Caribbean Basketball Championships (CBC) being held in Guyana, both male and female teams will be under pressure to make it to the finals. However, two players who have already been earmarked for the squad are among the best and brightest talents on these shores at the Under-16 level. The first is Kareem Boyle, an athletic combo guard who can play both the point and shooting guard positions.
Boyle was born January 2,, 2000 in Kwakwani. The youngster, who dreams of being an engineer, was motivated by Kwakwani coach Ann Gordon.
“Miss Annie was the one who introduced me to basketball, back in Kwakwani. We normally play all the time and one time I went to the court and she told me I have the potential to be good so I kept playing,” said Boyle.
From there, when he started President’s College in first form, he decided to give it a shot scoring his way onto the team. The six-foot multitalented Boyle is now in fifth form, pursuing 10 subjects at the CSEC examinations.
Boyle has his sights set on representing Guyana in the upcoming games and making his country proud. A bright mind full of optimism, the 16-year-old hopes to one day follow the dream of basketball into the National Basketball Association (NBA) idolising Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James.
The second of the two players from President’s College is Demelza Nicholas, a floor general with a high basketball IQ.
Nicholas, born March 22 2000 is the product of Enterprise Gardens on the East Coast of Demerara. The 16-year-old has been taking female basketball by storm at the school level. Since discovering her love for the game in Form 1 due to her P.E teacher, Demelza has always wanted to take part on her school team.
“We didn’t have a school team and when they said they wanted to start one I couldn’t wait to join,” said Demelza.
The 16-year-old is also in Fifth Form and is currently writing seven subjects at the CSEC level. She hopes one day to become a veterinarian. Her goals include becoming a well-rounded sportswoman who is successful at her craft. A fan of the all-time great Michael Jordan, Demelza says that the former Bulls shooting guard is the reason she is playing.
The President’s College duo of Kareem Boyle and Demelza Nicholas are making waves at the Under-16 levels.