Fifteen players, including San Pedro’s very own Michal Guan, have been chosen from around the country to represent Belize at the King James Classic Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Basketball Tournament scheduled for April 2012. The tournament will be played in Akron, Ohio, USA, the hometown of LeBron James, (Miami Heat forward) from April 27-29.
Try-outs began countrywide starting February 11th and end February 22nd in San Pedro. Interested young men at the high school level gave their all at the chance to be chosen to attend this prestigious tournament.
48 individuals were selected from the tryouts and invited to the University of Belize campus in Belmopan for the preliminary final tryouts on February 25th and 26th. From this group, 21 were selected to return for the final tryouts in Belize City on Sunday March 4th at the Civic Center. Making the cut were fifteen players, including Michal Guan from San Pedro.
A third year student at San Pedro High School, with over ten years residing in San Pedro, Michal Guan spoke with The San Pedro Sun. “It feels great. It’s a good opportunity to get a scholarship in the US and it’s a good chance to represent Belize and San Pedro High School. I’d just like to thank Mr. Kelly because without him none [of] us would have been out there. I’d also like to thank the school too and everyone that has supported and believed in us.” He ended his interview by stating, “I just want to really work hard and try to gain a scholarship when I go out there and try to do my best and properly represent.”
Michal has been playing basketball since the age of nine and will be traveling inland for practice along with the remainder of the selection in preparation for the Ohio trip. The tournament attracts coaches and scouts from across the United States, providing an excellent opportunity for high school students to be recruited by top colleges. Ninety-nine teams participated last year in what is considered one of the world’s top AAU tournaments.
The San Pedro Sun congratulates Michal, and wishes the Belize selection the very best in Ohio.
 Basketball Tournament scheduled for April 2012){kind=link}