As the Caribbean nation prepares to compete for a spot in the 2029 FIBA AmeriCup, the top leader of Barbados’ governing body for amateur basketball has openly voiced strong optimism about the national team selected for the tournament’s pre-qualification stage, noting that the final roster emerged from one of the most rigorous open selection processes in the country’s recent basketball history.
Barbados has been drawn into Group B for the Guyana-hosted pre-qualifiers, which are scheduled to run from July 8 to 12. The team will face off against Haiti, Grenada, the Cayman Islands, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with only the top team from the five-nation group earning the right to progress to the next round of qualification for the 2029 AmeriCup.
In an official statement released following the final roster announcement, Francis Williams, President of the Barbados Amateur Basketball Association (BABA), emphasized that the selected 12-player squad strikes the ideal balance between emerging young talent, veteran tournament experience, and proven dedication to representing the country on the international stage. He also extended his appreciation to every athlete who tried out during the selection trials, thanking them for their hard work and commitment throughout the process.
A key leadership shift has reshaped the team’s coaching staff ahead of the tournament. Devan Blair, who has served as the national team’s head coach for the past five years, will be unable to lead the squad in Guyana due to pre-existing professional obligations with the New York Knicks, where he will participate in the upcoming NBA Summer League. To fill the vacancy, BABA has named current assistant coach Charles Vanderpool as the interim head coach for the pre-qualifiers. Vanderpool will be joined on the coaching staff by Harley Borish, an assistant coach with the NBA’s Houston Rockets.
Williams reaffirmed the association’s gratitude for Blair’s years of work building the national program, extending well wishes for his continued success with the Knicks organization. He added that BABA has full confidence in Vanderpool and Borish’s ability to lead the team through the challenging competition and advance toward the ultimate goal of qualification.
For his part, Vanderpool expressed that he considers stepping into the head coaching role a profound honor. “Coach Blair has laid an incredibly strong foundation for this program, and we will carry forward the work he has done as we prepare for this highly competitive tournament,” Vanderpool said. “Every player put in extraordinary effort throughout the selection trials, and we have built a group that is fully committed to representing Barbados with pride, discipline, and collective unity.”
The full 12-player roster named to represent Barbados in Guyana includes: Deroni Hurley (C.A.M Smart Assurance City United Celtics), Kyrone Alexander (Boston University), Rasheed Maynard (Burger King Clapham Bulls), Carl Thorpe Jr (KFC Pinelands), Akeem Marsh (Burger King Clapham Bulls), Simeon Maynard (Burger King Clapham Bulls), Kiserian Adams (C.A.M Smart Assurance City United Celtics), Kemar Benn (Bluefield State University), Deveron Knight (Fusionz Boutique Station Hill Cavaliers), Keefe Birkett (Island Care Ambulance & BodyxB Lakers), Joel Hunte (C.A.M Smart Assurance City United Celtics), and Antoine Winter (PremiumFit Bears).