Sky's the limit for young basketballer
Published:Sunday | March 20, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Keisha Hill, Sunday Gleaner Writer
The frequently used mantra 'the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step' exemplifies the road that young Vashil Fernandez has travelled on his quest to become one of the fastest rising stars in basketball in Jamaica.
Fernandez grasped the opportunity to learn and play the game just three years ago, and despite the challenges has not looked back since.
The 19-year-old former Ewarton High School student was recruited by Ludlow Barker to play basketball for Calabar High School. In the early stages, Barker said, Fernandez was a natural talent and very committed to learning the rudiments of the game.
"He was one of those that watched the game on television. He didn't know much about it. But the more confident he became, his skills and leadership qualities grew," Barker said.
Barker said Fernandez did a lot of training, including running, as his body was very weak and while working on his fitness, they also improved his footwork and his overall form.
"He had a natural aggression and drive to do well. He may not have been the most talented but he was hardworking, and had a great attitude," Barker said.
Barker said his teammates would jeer him but Fernandez did not take it negatively. According to Barker, although they gave him a hard time, they still respected him.
"He enjoyed failing because he learned from it but he did not accept it. I encouraged him never to give up and he accepted the fact that if he applied himself, his hard work would pay off in the end," Barker said.
Tallest student
Fernandez said he was arguably the tallest student in the school, standing at 6 feet 11 inches, and was good at defending and rebounding. "From the onset, I was hungry to learn and wanted to develop my skills," he said.
However, little did Fernandez know that even while learning to play the game, he would have been benched for an injury he had sustained in his younger years. He was examined by a doctor and the initial results were quite dismal. The results indicated that he would not have been able to play for at least one year and worst-case scenario, if he started to play again, the condition could be worsened and could lead to the amputation of his leg.
Barker sought a second opinion and contacted president of the Jamaica Basketball Association (JaBA), Ajani Williams, who had Fernandez thoroughly checked out by a different team of doctors. The results revealed that his injuries were not as serious as originally thought. The analysis indicated that he would require some remedial work before he could resume playing.
After much effort, Fernandez made good on his recovery and Williams recruited him, along with a number of other boys and girls for the JaBA Incubator Academy he conducted at the University of the West Indies campus on weekends.
Advancing his game
Williams said Fernandez continued to advance his game and improved tremendously over the eight months he spent in training with him.
"He was clearly a very special young man. For someone who had just started the game, he was very advanced," Williams said.
Fernandez also did well academically at Calabar High, and graduated with eight Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects, gaining five ones and three twos.
By September 2010, through the assistance of Barker and Williams, he was selected for a basketball scholarship to attend Princeton Day Academy in the Washington DC area of the United States.
"It has been a great experience for me. I have learned to be away from my family, which has helped me to grow more and prepare me for college," Fernandez said. Fernandez spent the basketball season with mostly international players from Serbia, England, China, among others.
The school team competed in the National Christian School Athletics Association (NCSAA) championships and took home the regional trophy. The athletic and mobile big man made his biggest impact on the defensive end of the floor with his shot-blocking ability. After missing a few games early in the season, Fernandez was even stronger in the second semester, averaging a double double along with close to five blocks per game.
High scores
He also registered high scores on his Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), and several overseas colleges are looking to recruit him for the upcoming school year. At the top of Fernandez's list are the TCU Horned Frogs and the East Carolina Pirates. However, he is scheduled to visit a few more schools before making the final decision.
Fernandez said he is in discussions with his school's head coach Chris Chaney, Barker, and Williams to choose the right college. He wants to attend a school that will facilitate him in pursuing his dreams in business management, and continue to develop his basketball talent.
"I want to continue to develop my game and scoring technique. I just need to keep working harder at being a good defensive player," Fernandez said.
Fernandez was also featured on ESPN after scoring 86 points by scouts. This score means Fernandez is a multi-year starter at the mid-major level and just needs time and experience, as he is still new to the game and in the infant stages of his development.
He was also described as a player with good lateral quickness for his size, which allows him to run the floor well, and get off his feet easily to score.
Meanwhile, Barker said he was not surprised by Fernandez' achievements.
"He is a success story in his family. I know that any college that gets him and whatever venture he becomes involved in, he will do well," Barker said.
Williams, meanwhile, said Fernandez has the potential to play for the National Basketball Asso-ciation, and also contribute to Jamaica in a big way.