Visiting NCAA women's basketball teams were welcomed to St. Thomas Wednesday evening with a steel pan and mocko jumbie show at a poolside reception and press conference at the Renaissance Grand Beach Resort.
Four highly ranked Division I teams are on island to compete in the first Paradise Jam basketball tournament, Friday and Saturday at the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School gym.
Earlier Wednesday, teams fit in a few practice sessions at the Kean gymnasium, where students and coaches from both Kean and Charlotte Amalie High School participated in a basketball clinic.
"This is a dream come true," said Sinclair Wilkinson, principal at Eudora Kean. "I feel good to know that our students are getting such a great opportunity."
He said that the whole school has been involved in preparing for the event. "One of our students will even be singing the national anthem before the games," he said proudly.
In the first game to start at 6 p.m. on Friday, the women of Texas Tech will take on the lady lions of Penn State. Following that game, SW Missouri State and Louisiana State will go head to head.
"These are counting games," not exhibitions, pointed out Nels Hawkinson, executive director of Basketball Travelers Inc., who organized the tournament.
On Saturday evening, Friday night's winners will play each other followed by a game between Friday's defeated teams.
This tournament is drawing national attention to the Virgin Islands and hundreds of visitors including family and friends of the players. According to Cathy Bongiovi, Media Relations Director for the Penn State team, the teams are traveling with an entourage of coaches, trainers, doctors, media and fan clubs. While on island they will be treated to a tour of St. Thomas and St. John.
Plans for a second tournament to include men's teams in November 2001 are already under way, Hawkinson said. He expects a total of 18 teams to participate in four tournaments spanning nine days in 2001. Hawkinson said there are several teams with players from the Virgin Islands that he hopes will sign on.
"This is going to be good family entertainment," said Wilkinson.
Tickets cost $10 per evening for Virgin Islands residents. They may be purchased in advance at Nisky Center, the Color of Joy in Red Hook, at Bridal and Tuxedo and the Family and Health Center in the Tutu Park Mall, and at Kean. Proceeds from tickets and food and drink sales will go to the school.
