You may or may not know that Jamaica has never qualified for men's basketball in the Olympics. They're attempting to change that right now, and Devin Vassell is a candidate to join their ranks. According to the Jamaica Observer, several NBA players with roots in the country are being recruited to field a team worthy of high-level FIBA competition.
Vassell's father is from Jamaica, and that's all the young wing needs to be eligible to suit up. They've been on the outside looking in from the beginning, but there are quite a few talented players with families you can trace back to Jamrock. They're now being tapped to serve time on the hardwood for the green and yellow.
Players being recruited for Jamaican team
Devin Vassell
Amen Thompson
Ausar Thompson
Isaiah Stewart
Scottie Barnes
Norman Powell
Josh Minott
Jamaica has the makings of a strong FIBA team
This isn't a team that will win an Olympic tournament right now, but they don't have to quite yet. The Los Angeles Olympics are still a few years away, giving these players time to reach their prime. By the time 2028 rolls around, this could be a force to be reckoned with. Spurs fans may be split on Vassell, but he has obvious talent, and he hasn't reached his peak.
The Thompson twins have an extreme level of athleticism that will only make them more dangerous when they sculpt their games with go-to moves and counters to the opposition. Once these two learn howto play NBA basketball like veterans, everyone, whether in the NBA or in FIBA competition, will have issues with them.
What they don't have right now is a lot of size. But these are only the players we know about so far. There will certainly be some homegrown players on the roster, and once they gain chemistry, they'll be a team to look out for.
The first step will be getting all of the players to agree to play for Jamaica as soon as possible, so they can begin gaining that chemistry in the FIBA games in the years leading up to the Olympics. Powell and Minott have already agreed to this, according to the Jamaica Observer. The Thompson twins are in the passport application process with intentions to play.
This is a pretty cool thing, no matter where you fall on your Devin Vassell opinion. Keldon Johnson has already had international experience, and now Dev will get a chance. Representing your country is a huge honor, and although Vassell was born in the United States, many people feel a connection to their parents and where their parents are from.
It'd be less about representing Jamaica and more about representing his father. Who doesn't love a good family story?