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Pro Player Kentan Facey returns to Knox College to give back through basketball clinic
Written by Leighton Levy. Posted in Basketball. | 03 July 2025 | 876 Views
Tags: Basketball, Kenton Facey, Knox College

Professional basketball player Kentan Facey will return to his alma mater, Knox College in the hills of Clarendon, Jamaica, to host a one-day basketball clinic on July 11 aimed at unearthing new talent and inspiring the next generation of Jamaican hoopers.

The clinic, which is set to run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., will involve morning drills, competitive games in the afternoon, and an intimate mentorship session where Facey will share his journey from rural Trelawny to the European professional basketball circuit. He said, “This year I decided to do  a one-day clinic to get a feel of how a camp would turn out, and then gradually build from there each year.” He also said he plans to speak about the lessons he’s learned throughout his career, offering tools to help young athletes navigate the challenges of both sports and life.

Facey, who grew up in a small community called New Road District—nestled between Troy and Albert Town in Trelawny—has always remembered his roots.  “Being from Trelawny, we didn’t have much basketball around, so my exposure to the sport came a little later,” he said.

He currently plays professionally in France and said this year’s initiative is mostly self-funded, but he sees it as a seed being planted. “Probably 90 per cent is out of pocket,” he admitted. “But I’ve been in that exact situation, and I know how far that goes for a kid.”

Giving back is something Facey has long considered.  “During my time at Knox, Mr. Oneil Watson would always try to find ways to help athletes. Whether it was getting us a pair of sneakers or just general support,” he recalled.

It was Watson who first introduced Facey to basketball in high school—thanks to a moment of integrity. “I found a $50 bill where the team was changing, and I gave it to Mr. Watson,” he recalled. “He asked me if I wanted to play basketball. I said sure, and he invited me to practice the next day.”

At the time, Facey had only just been introduced to the sport during a visit to his aunt in Kingston. “Her husband cut out a plastic bucket lid, nailed it to a wall, and we used a football to shoot," he revealed. "That was my introduction to basketball.”

Despite lacking skill, Facey’s height stood out, and Watson saw potential. From there, Facey’s development accelerated. He attended the Star Search camp at GC Foster College and eventually earned the opportunity to study and play in the United States in 2010.

He went on to win a state championship and was named New York State Gatorade Player of the Year before moving on to the University of Connecticut, where he won an NCAA championship in his freshman year.

After stints in Greece with Trikala BC and in Cyprus with AEL, Facey signed with Caen Basket Calvados in France, where he recently agreed to a two-year extension. He also said he’s planning to tap into his professional network for future editions of the clinic. “Eventually, I’d like it to be a week-long event in the summer, bringing in teammates and Jamaican-rooted players like Nick Richards to help,” he said.

The long-term goal? To expose Jamaican kids to pathways and tools they may not have realized existed. He said, “Sometimes all it takes is one camp, one story, one moment. That’s what I’m trying to give them.”

 Photos: Hugo  Lemarié 

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