Jamaica Seeks NBA Stars to Build Dominant Team for FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers
Jamaica’s basketball program is gearing up for the FIBA World Cup 2027 Americas Pre-Qualifiers in August 2025, a vital step in the journey toward Olympic qualification in 2028. Competing alongside Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, and the US Virgin Islands, Jamaica aims to advance to the next stage in November, where teams like the USA and Canada await.
Player eligibility has been a major focus. Head Coach Rick Turner and his staff are recruiting top-tier talent, including NBA players Norman Powell (LA Clippers), Nick Richards (Phoenix Suns), Josh Minott (Minnesota Timberwolves) Justin Champagnie (Washington Wizards), Amen Thompson (Houston Rockets) among others. However, FIBA regulations requiring players to have acquired passports before age 16 pose challenges for some athletes, such as Powell.
The Jamaica Basketball Association is working with FIBA’s legal team on appeals, while logistics and funding remain key hurdles. Efforts include support from the Bob and Rita Marley Foundation, Cedella Marley and partnerships with private entities to secure accommodations.
Training camps for local and overseas talent are planned for June, with a final camp in July to narrow the squad to 18 players. Turner sees this as one of the most committed groups in years, hopeful Jamaica can be competitive with the right player availability and buy-in.
Qualifying for the next stage would bring high-level basketball to Jamaica through home-and-home series, offering fans a unique opportunity to rally behind the team. With robust preparations underway, Jamaica is poised to make an impactful push in the qualification campaign.
