Posted: Friday, May 30, 2025. 12:13 pm CST.
Photo Credit: 7 News Belize screenshot
By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The Belize City Civic Center was alive with energy on Thursday as approximately 50 young athletes participated in the Basketball Athlete Recruitment event, hosted by the National Sports Council (NSC), Belize Tourism Board (BTB), and Lake Superior State University (LSSU). With dreams of earning a basketball scholarship, these aspiring players displayed their talent under the watchful eye of LSSU coach and scout Steve Hettinga.
The event provided a golden opportunity for Belizean athletes to demonstrate their skills and potentially secure a spot in a collegiate basketball program. Lake Superior State University, based in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, competes in the NCAA Division II Regional Championship, making it an attractive destination for players looking to take their game to the next level.
While the enthusiasm among the young players was evident, Minister of State for Sports Devin Daly voiced concern over the low turnout of female athletes, with only two young women participating. Daly stressed the need for greater outreach to encourage more girls to pursue basketball, highlighting female representation as a key element in Belize’s athletic development.
Despite the gender imbalance, the event provided a valuable opportunity for players to demonstrate their skills and potentially earn a place at LSSU.
Minister of State for Sports Devin Daly, left, and LSSU Head Coach Steve Hettinga – Photo Credit: Steve Hettinga/Facebook
Reflecting on his reunion with Daly, who he coached at LSSU, Hettinga praised Daly’s dedication,
“Reunited and it feels so good! So proud of this guy! Doing great things in his homeland,” Hettinga said in a social media post.
Daly said the initiative as a significant step in exposing Belizean athletes to higher education opportunities and professional sports training abroad. With recruitment efforts ongoing, Daly said he remains hopeful that future events will attract more female players, ensuring a more balanced representation in Belize’s basketball community.
Daly also noted that this basketball recruitment effort is just the beginning, as he hopes to expand similar initiatives to other sports, ensuring more Belizean athletes can benefit from scholarship opportunities and international training programs.
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The post Lake Superior State University Basketball recruitment event draws 50 youth appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Friday, May 30, 2025. 12:13 pm CST. Photo Credit: 7 News Belize screenshot By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The Belize City Civic Center was alive with
The post Lake Superior State University Basketball recruitment event draws 50 youth appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
