Aaliyah Edwards: ‘You got Knext’

Canadian and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) star Aaliyah Edwards said she is excited to see the growth in Jamaican women’s basketball while hosting her third ‘You Got Knext’ girls’ basketball camp in Jamaica on Tuesday.

Edwards said she is happy to see the number of girls who turned out for the camp earlier this week.

The camp, which was originally scheduled to be a two-day affair in October last year, was delayed due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

It was eventually held as a one-day camp at The Queen’s School where over 100 young athletes got the chance to hone their craft under the guidance of experienced coaches and Edwards herself.

Speaking with The Gleaner, Edwards said it was a positive sign not just for Jamaican basketball, but women’s sports.

“I love it and I’m really thankful for the girls because without them, this would not even be possible,” Edwards said.

“I think one of the best things I saw today, before the rain obviously, was before we even touched the basketball, it was just all smiles. They’re very joyful and just happy to be here, obviously seeing me, but just happy to play basketball today. That’s what it really needs to be at the end of the day,” she continued.

“I want to see my girls grow. I want to see my girls flourish and I feel like there is passion here. It’s just not really highlighted and promoted and encouraged.”

Born in Kingston, Ontario in Canada, Edwards said she chose to host her camp on the island because she is also of Jamaican descent.

She explained she still has family members who live in Jamaica, and often travels to the island to visit her family and for vacation.

The camp was born from her belief in giving back to her community and her goal of encouraging the next generation to rise to their abilities.

“Why Jamaica? I say why not Jamaica,” Edwards explained. “I started my camp back home in Kingston, Ontario. I definitely wanted to grow and one of the opportunities I got the chance for it to grow is down here in Jamaica.”

She continued, “This is my third year putting on a ‘You Got Knext camp’. [It] is kind of like my motto, not only for myself, but for the next generation, to inspire girls just to have like a focus-forward mentality of you never know if you’re going to be the next.”

The camp was held in collaboration with the Jamaica Basketball Association (JaBA), the Bob and Rita Marley Foundation, the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA), and Adidas.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com