At a time when Jamaica is seeking new avenues for international sporting success beyond the track, Troy Thompson is taking a bold step toward making basketball part of the country’s long-term winning formula. Speaking at a special meet and greet hosted by the Jamaica Basketball Association (JABA) at the S Hotel in Kingston on Sunday morning, the father of NBA twins Amen and Ausar Thompson outlined a community-driven development plan backed wholeheartedly by the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA).

Thompson, who founded the youth-focused organization Ball Hall, revealed that the pilot project will begin at New Hope Primary & Junior High in White House Jamaica.—the school his eldest son once attended.

“The court there is in really bad shape. I used to play on it 25 years ago, and shockingly, it looks even worse now,” he said. “We’re going to fix it up—put in a proper hoop, get the right dimensions, and gradually build it into something functional and safe.”

New Hope Primary and Junior High is just the beginning. Thompson plans to extend his efforts to St Elizabeth and Savanna-la-Mar, with the goal of revitalizing underserved communities. “Once you leave Montego Bay and head toward White House, there isn’t a single visible basketball court. That has to change,” he declared.

His vision isn’t just about facilities but about structure, coaching and long-term transformation. “If we reach the seven- and eight-year-olds now, train local coaches, and build little leagues, in 10 to 15 years we’ll see a serious transformation. We’ll be sending kids to college on scholarships—some even on our own dime—and eventually producing professional players from Jamaica.”

JOA President Christopher Samuda praised Thompson’s vision, framing it as aligned with the Olympic movement’s goals of sustainable development and opportunity for all.

“A swimmer without a pool is like an aspiring basketball player with a basket case—without a court,” Samuda said, echoing Thompson’s concerns. “Infrastructure is absolutely essential, and that is why the Jamaica Olympic Association places significant emphasis on it in sport development.”

He pointed to the need for multi-sport hubs to support a wider pool of talent. “We have to build more multi-sport complexes—spaces that allow our youth, and those not so young, to ply their craft on the stage and on the board,” he said.

But Samuda also acknowledged that physical infrastructure alone isn’t enough. “We are building not just courts and complexes—we are building human capital. The values that define the Olympic spirit—discipline, commitment, integrity, fairness—must be part of how we grow sport in Jamaica,” he stated.

He added that the Olympic dream should not be reserved for athletes in traditional sports. “We must give our youth the chance to self-actualize on the Olympic stage, which is the apogee of any sporting career,” he said. “And I have absolutely no doubt that we’ll be there not only for track and field in Los Angeles—but for basketball as well.”

Samuda, who also heads the Jamaica Paralympic Association, noted that the JOA’s infrastructure push is inclusive of all athletes. “We’re hoping to break ground next year on a high-performance training academy that will serve all disciplines—including para-sport. We’ve already begun restoring a court used by our wheelchair basketball team, thanks to support from Digicel. That’s what partnership looks like.”

In speaking directly to Thompson’s efforts, Samuda called on all stakeholders to get involved. “We are not ready-made—we are under construction. But what matters is that we are on the construction site together. Paulton [Gordon] and I are both project managers—bringing in the expertise, the vision, and the commitment required to build something lasting.”

With that synergy between grassroots vision and institutional support, Sunday’s gathering offered more than ceremonial goodwill. It marked the beginning of what could become a transformative chapter for basketball in Jamaica—starting with New Hope Primary and Junior High, but reaching toward a future where the island's youth have a clear path from community courts to Olympic arenas.

Photos courtesy of @JamaicaSocial