Team Hurricane Highlights Player, Programmes
Team Hurricane Basketball Academy enters its 11th year as Bermuda’s premiere youth basketball program, continuing its mission to provide a platform in which student-athletes can train, develop, and reach their academic and athletic potential.
Founder/Head Coach Doug Reed says, “We seek to provide the best competitive basketball experience for student-athletes who want to pursue a college education.”
The spokesperson said, “Such efforts are highlighted in elite basketball opportunities Team Hurricane presented to a trio of promising student-athletes in its program.
Devin Todd
“Devin Todd, a talented 6’2” combo guard [point guard/shooting guard], is entering his first year at the International Sports Academy in Sandusky, OH. The International Sports Academy [ISA] is designed for dedicated student-athletes entering grades 8-12 or Post-Graduates. The full-time academy combines year-round basketball and performance training with a college preparatory academic curriculum. ISA strives to prepare college-ready student-athletes who can think critically and lead in a diverse global community.”
Mr Todd, a former Berkeley Institute student, says, “I thank Coach Reed and Team Hurricane for referring me to this program. Team Hurricane has prepared me for ISA with a training program that has quality reps and a serious offensive system. I’m excited for this opportunity to play basketball at a high level every day. I’m excited to meet new people and make new friends. ISA will guide me on the right path to play college basketball hopefully one day.” Bob Bossman, Executive Director and Co-Founder of ISA, says, “We are thrilled about Devin joining the ISA program. He is young and has shown a very solid skill set. We are confident that he is going to excel and grow his game to another level, and our hope is that he is the first of many future Bermuda basketball players attending ISA.”
Nate Thomas
The spokesperson said, “Nate Thomas, a former Somersfield Academy student now entering his second year at The Winchendon School [MA], participated in two Ivy League elite camps this August—Amaker Basketball Elite Academy at Harvard University and Columbia University’s Jim Engles Elite Basketball Camp. The mission of Head Coach Tommy Amaker’s Elite Academy is to provide prospective student-athletes an immersive “Scholars and Ballers” experience on the Harvard University campus. The Elite Academy provides a competitive exposure environment for players interested in pursuing a high academic and athletic college experience. Columbia University’s Elite Camp, led by Head Coach Jim Engles, is designed to give campers entering the eighth grade or higher who want to play at the collegiate level an opportunity to compete against other campers while being observed by college coaches.”
Of his elite camp experiences, Mr Thomas says, “My elite experience at Harvard was interesting and competitive. At the showcase, it showed that everyone was hungry for limited spots. My elite camp experience at Columbia University was different from Harvard. The pace of the game was extremely fast. It taught me that I need to learn how to adapt to the different speeds of the game.” The dynamic 5’9” point guard adds, “The highlight of my experience was being able to compete at an NCAA Division One level, one of the highest levels in a sport I love. What stood out for me the most overall was meeting Chandler Pigge, one of the Harvard players whose story resonated with me. Although he was American, Chandler lived overseas because his parents were in the military. He did not get much exposure in America, but he was still able to be recruited to play for Harvard. Now he is a Rising Junior in college basketball. This showed me that opportunities are available, but some people have to work harder to make them happen. What was coincidental was he did a prep school year and actually played in the same league I currently play in now.”
Mr Thomas’ experience with Team Hurricane prepared him well for the type of competitive environment at elite camps. He says, “Coach Reed always told me to be confident in myself and trust my abilities. He developed me as a player and taught me the fundamentals. His style is unique, and it showed when I was at Columbia because one of the coaches asked me where I gained the confidence to shoot shots like I do. When I called Coach Reed’s name, he instantly knew the name and my style.”
Jacob Hines
The spokesperson said, “Jacob Hines of MSA participated in Barry University’s Elite Basketball Camp, led by Head Coach Butch Estes. Held on the school’s beautiful Miami Shores campus and at their Health & Sports Center, Coach Estes and his staff evaluated Jacob and other potential prospects in a tryout-type setting.”
Mr Hines is a lethal 6’2” shooting guard who says, “Overall, it was a good experience. It was good to play against guys who were bigger, taller, and sometimes stronger. The coaches made sure everything was precise so that we played at a high level. Everything was done fast and quick. We got to tour the campus. It was beautiful. We got to see their academic programs. I really enjoyed the experience because I had never been on a college campus before.” He adds, “Playing with Team Hurricane has helped me a lot. The offense that we ran at Barry University is very similar to what we run with Team Hurricane. When I played in Canada with the national team, we played a lot differently than they do in America. But playing with Team Hurricane and in their offense helped me a lot. As a result, I wasn’t behind because of the things I learned at Hurricanes.”
Team Hurricane Founder/Head Coach Doug Reed couldn’t be more pleased about these elite opportunities for his players. He envisions providing more elite experiences for Team Hurricane student-athletes in the future. “Our program is brimming with many talented players from our primary school division all the way up to our two secondary school divisions. Furthermore, Team Hurricane has a style of play that prepares them for such opportunities, one in which we preach: ‘Play fast but disciplined. Be assertive and decisive in your decision-making. And most importantly, play with confidence…believe in yourself.’ As a result, I’m so delighted to see our players taking what they learn in the Hurricane program and using it to showcase their skills and compete at a high level against other talented student-athletes in the U.S. and beyond.”
The spokesperson said, “To learn more about Team Hurricane Basketball Academy and how you can enroll your child in this free program, please contact Coach Doug Reed at 504-1962 and via email at hurricanehoops@outlook.com. Also, follow Team Hurricane Basketball on their Team Hurricane Basketball Academy Facebook Page, as well as on Twitter at https://twitter.com/hurricanehoops1 and our website. For information about ISA Basketball please visit their website.”
Nate Thomas with Columbia University Basketball Coach, Jake Brown.
Coach Doug Reed, Team Hurricane Basketball Academy.
Devin Todd.
Nate Thomas.
Jacob Hines.
Nate Thomas at Harvard University Elite Camp.
Nate Thomas with Rising Junior Chandler Pigge of Harvard University.
