One love, one heart and now one historic moment for Jamaica basketball.
In a powerful fusion of sport, legacy, and national pride, Jamaica’s National Basketball Team touched down in South Florida over the weekend to launch its most promising campaign in decades.
Inside Florida Atlantic University’s Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena, the island’s top talent came together for several practices and a high-energy Media Day as the team prepares for the 2025 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
With support from the Bob and Rita Marley Foundations, the team of NBA athletes, overseas professionals, and rising stars is rewriting the narrative of Jamaican basketball, on and off the court. Among them: Norman Powell of the Miami Heat and UCLA, Kentan Facey (Caen Basket Calvados — France, UConn), Jordan Kellier (Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa — Spain), Seyi Reiley (Vilkaviskio Perlas — Lithuania, Seattle University) and hometown talent Justin Abson, now at the University of Georgia after shining at North Broward Prep.
“Saturday was a spectacular day as collectively South Florida’s Jamaican diaspora, Miami Heat fans, general basketball fans and the media, along with the team’s families and friends all showed up for a memorable celebration,” said Jamaican National Basketball Team Manager and St. Andrew’s School alum Dominic Delgado.
“The support is greatly appreciated as we travel to Mexico this week for critical World Cup pre-qualifier games as we embark on our historic mission of qualifying for the World Cup in 2027 and the Olympics in 2028,” added Delgado.
Helping drive this historic moment forward is Cedella Marley, a visionary force behind the team’s resurgence, who was in Boca Raton to witness the impact of her support firsthand.
“One of the reasons that we’re here and able to make this journey, this historic journey, is because of the fine lady sitting back there,” said Jamaican National Basketball’s Head Coach Rick Turner, gesturing to the back of the press conference room. “Her name is Cedella Marley.”
Cedella, daughter of reggae legend Bob Marley, was visibly moved as she was brought to the front of the room. Her involvement in Jamaican athletics is far from symbolic. Known for helping lead Jamaica’s women’s national football team to its first-ever World Cup appearance, Cedella turned her attention to basketball about 18 months ago after her son, Saiyan, a basketball fanatic, urged her to support the sport’s growth.
“Everything changed for us when she got involved,” said Turner. “And that’s what brings us here to Boca, to be able to do this training camp with these guys, and to fuel us as we head to Mexico for a shot at something really special.”
The special moment was capped off when Norman Powell stepped forward to present Cedella with a signed practice jersey from the team.
Powell, whose father was born in Kingston, Jamaica, didn’t grow up deeply immersed in his Caribbean roots, making this opportunity to represent Jamaica a meaningful personal journey; one that allows him to connect with and explore his heritage through the game he loves.
“I think the great thing about us is nobody knows what we can do and what we can’t do. This is the foundation. This is the start of something historic and something special,” said Powell.
Jamaica’s program has been largely dormant since its last FIBA qualifying attempt in 2013. But with this rebirth comes real opportunity. Team Jamaica plays on Aug. 8, 9 and 10 as part of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Pre-Qualifiers. Sixteen teams remain in the hunt for four final World Cup slots and Jamaica is right in the mix. Should they advance in Mexico, it could open the door to further international play, including the Olympics.
Players like Giovanni Fraser (Coral Springs Charter), Prince Foster (Miami’s American High) and more have reunited here, many having first met at Jamaican youth camps.
From the floor of FAU to the courts of Europe and now the global stage, the Jamaican basketball journey is no longer a dream deferred.
It’s happening and it’s happening now.
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