V.I. gains ground in talent war with Puerto Rico

Virgin Islanders, can you keep a secret? For several years, there has been a hidden back and forth between the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico in basketball.

It started decades ago when Puerto Rico's basketball brass stole Alfred 'Butch' Lee from us. Lee went on to star on their national team and played several years in their Superior Basketball League. Lee was also inducted into the Puerto Rico Sports Hall of Fame. Fast forward to two summers back, Puerto Rico, doing their homework, yanked another player from our mitts. This time it was Gary Browne, a freshman point guard in West Virginia.

So what did the Virgin Islands do in retaliation, we took Walter Hodge from right under their noses. This move caused a major outrage in the land of Boricua, but rules are rules. A player has an opportunity to represent a country that their grandparent are from.

Now with that said, the minions have been hard at work and Puerto Rico may now have two more reasons to hate the Virgin Islands in basketball.

I was on Facebook chatting away when I got a message from Thomas Cuencas. Cuencas informed me that he is from Frederiksted and he has a grandson, Angel Rivera, a Puerto Rican that wants to play with the Virgin Islands team. Rivera is one of the best high school basketball players in Cincinnati.

"He told me, 'Grandpa, I want to represent your country," said Cuencas. "He wants to honor where I came from and hopefully beat Puerto Rico."

As a Virgin Islander, I am in awe that a Puerto Rican would give up his Boricua-ness to represent the land of Moses Gottlieb.

"I am a proud Crucian," exclaimed Cuencas. "I went to school with Adelbert Bryan and I told him five years ago my grandson will represent the Virgin Islands. I met him at a baseball game in Puerto Rico and now I can't wait to see him in the uniform."

Here's a little bit of info on Rivera. He is a 5-foot-8 point guard and is presently attending Hughes High School. The sophomore was once named player of the week this season after averaging 11.5 points and 11 assists in two games earlier in the year. But how did Rivera end up in Ohio?

"I and his family pooled our money together," said Cuencas. "It cost us $550 dollars to send him to Central Florida University's five-star basketball camp. He was discovered there, and coach took him to Ohio. Right now, every big time school wants him to transfer. I don't know where he may end up next season."

I know where he wants to be this summer, with the Virgin Islands junior men's team that qualified for the 2012 FIBA Americas championship. He may be the missing piece to the puzzle that finally has us wearing jewelry.

But in my haste, I may have forgotten someone else. Oh yes, young Max Jordan Amaro of St. Francis High School in Puerto Rico. His mother is also from St. Thomas. His grandfather is Maximiliano Velasquez of Estate St. John. The 5-foot-11 guard is one of the better players in the Class of 2013.

Smith reaches 1,000 points

Diane Willet sent me an email with the title "Proud Mama." As I opened the email, I was in awe that young Laron Smith had scored 1,000 points at Heritage High in Palm Bay, Fla., in a 76-73 loss to Melbourne earlier this month. The sought-after senior had 19 points and was a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line.

Smith to play in All-Star Game

Crucian Taiedo Smith played in the Battle of Florida All-Star Game on Saturday in Boca Raton, Fla. The game will feature players from North Florida battling against players from South Florida.

Smith, who is a three-time Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll member, played in 32 games with three starts at Kentucky.

Smith's biggest play came in the final game of his career when he intercepted Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray to seal the Wildcats' first win against the Volunteers in 27 years. The safety finished the 2011 season with nine tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery. He completed his bachelor's degree before the start of the 2011 season and is currently working on his master's with the goal of becoming a marriage and family counselor.

Krauser to the Canada's NBL

Virgin Islander Carl Krauser has just inked with Quebec Kebs of the Canadian National Basketball League. The 6-foot-1 guard scored 18 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and dished out 11 assists while helping his new team beat Summerside Storm, 145-136. Let the signing of Krauser signal a professional round up.

Cuthbert Victor is still in Russia with Spartak-Primorie (4-3). Spartak recently came up on the down side of a battle between third- and fourth-place teams as they lost to Lokomotive, 79-72. Victor, the league leader in rebounds, was held to eight boards and managed just six points.

Kitwana Rhymer, Jason Edwin and JaJa Richards are enjoying playoff action in Mexico. Rhymer was recently signed by Fuerza Regia, who is in a dead heat (two games apiece) with Edwin and Hurracanes.

Richards and Barrateros were just swept by the No. 1 team in Mexico, Halcones Rojos. Richards had five points and eight rebounds in the clincher.

Walter Hodge is putting up huge numbers in Poland. The 5-foot-11 guard led fifth-place Zastal ZG (13-7) over second-place Anwil, 81-65. Hodge had 29 points and 12 assists.

Jerome Gumbs led Residence (7-8) over the first place T71 (13-2) on Jan. 14. Gumbs had 19 points, four rebounds and two assists in helping snap T71's seven-game win streak.

Frank Elegar is in Greece with Marousi and putting up nine points and five boards per outing.

Dolor to coach semi pro teams

St. Croix native was Johnny on the spot when he became head coach of the ABA's Atlanta Alien.

"I got the job after management decided the team needed to go in a different direction," said Dolor. "I am 6-0 as a semi pro coach and I am also with the Georgia Spartans. The Spartans play in the IBA and it's a Christian League. It's a league that gives players exposure; it is not a league where you could get rich."

- David Edole is a V.I. resident and sports enthusiast.

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