Vincente challenges young b/ballers to set “big goals”

Just a few years ago, Dominique Vincente was just a fan in the bleachers, watching some of the capital city’s top school players.
Now Vincente has elevated his game to the reaching pinnacle of what Guyana basketball has to offer.

Vincente, a three-time junior national basketball player, recently departed Guyana to begin a four-month training stint at the highly acclaimed Impact Basketball Academy in Miami, Florida.

Impact Basketball boasts of being the premier destination in the world for basketball teams, professional basketball players, and student basketball players to improve their overall game with hopes of gaining recognition.

Impact Basketball Academy has had a hand in shaping NBA Champions and All Stars including, Kevin Garnett (Boston Celtics), Tayshaun Prince (Detroit Pistons) and Baron Davis (New York Knicks) according to their website. The Impact Academy alumni of NBA stars also include Mo Williams (Utah Jazz), Chauncey Billups (Clippers), Rashard Lewis (Heat) and Sebastian Telfair (Suns).

The 19-year old Vincente has already arrived in Florida and is elated to begin the programme which he sees as the stepping stone for him to make the transition to the next level. The Impact Basketball Academy offer the opportunity for training, high level competition, college scouting while at the same time offering student a supplementary academic component. With this in mind, Vincente said that it his intention to give his best in every aspect of the programme so that he can be scouted into a college and move a step closer to the NBA.

Dominique Vincente
Dominique Vincente

The 5’11 guard said that the experience felt surreal and he was still trying to come to grips with the reality that he has made such a giant leap towards realizing his dream. Vincente said that he had always set huge goals for himself and is elated to finally see that after much hard work and dedication, much of what he envisaged is becoming a reality. The fifth form Marian Academy student challenges others young basketball players to work hard and not to give up on their dreams even though they may seem unattainable in Guyana.
“My advice is set big goals that you want to achieve in basketball or any other aspiration in life and eventually with hard work, dedication, focus and effort, you will see your goals unfold before your naked eyes,” Vincente said.

Vincente was now settling in the Impact Basketball Academy when contacted by Stabroek Sports. He has been selected by Youth Basketball Guyana to attended Regional Sports Academy’s Basketball Camp in Suriname last August, where he impressed selectors and was identified join the Impact Basketball Academy in Florida.

Vincente and junior national teammate Nikkoloi Smith attended the Regional Sports Academy’s Basketball Camp in Suriname last August which was facilitated YBG president Chris Bowman. Vincente was the only Guyanese to be selected alone with four others to attend the Impact Basketball Academy in Florida.

The Ravens junior point guard said that the experience has been great so far and singled out the following persons to express his gratitude: “My Mother, Father, Uncle, Aunts, the Director of Sport, Grandmother, all my Coaches in Guyana and Suriname and God.”