Another Bahamian is taking his basketball talents to Europe. The latest to sign is Wilkenson “Kenny” Isnord as he inked a three-year deal at Get Better Academy (GBA) in Prague, the Czech Republic, last week.
The forward is humbled to get the opportunity to go to Europe to work on his skills.
“I am very excited and grateful for this opportunity,” Isnord said. “It’s a blessing amidst all the adversity and I never lost my faith in God. I can’t wait to get to work and see what the Lord has in store for me.”
Isnord, who weathered the storm through Hurricane Dorian in Abaco last year, connected with now retired Bahamian senior men’s national team player Jaraun ‘Kino’ Burrows and his Raw Talent program. Burrows said Bahamas Basketball Federation (BBF) President Mario Bowleg approached him to assist Isnord in furthering his basketball skills.
Burrows took him to France for tryouts and they went on an exposure tour last year and Isnord left with a few options on the table. Burrows said he is excited that Isnord received an opportunity to play.
“He is a laser-focused, high-character and determined young man,” Burrows said. “The sky is the limit for him… We were looking for a long-term, development-based opportunity where Kenny can also play high-level basketball and grow at the same time. It is a blessing that a three-year deal with a long-term development plan came about.”
For the 20-year-old, he does not have any set goals for when he gets to the Czech Republic. He said, “I don’t know what the Lord has in store for me but I will continue to work hard and develop my skills at GBA.”
Isnord played his high school ball at Agape Christian School in Abaco before going off to play at Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Florida. He helped them capture the state championship in 2018. That summer he played on the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circuit for Team Breakdown where he teamed up with another Bahamian, Kai Jones.
Director of GBA Julian Betko said Isnord was at the academy for three months last season and that was a factor in the academy signing him.
“We are tremendously excited that we signed a three-year contract with Bahamian prospect Wilkenson Isnord. He is bringing world-class athleticism to our team and I think he will be a force for us on both ends of the floor. Kenny spent three months with GBA last season, and his improvement was incredible. It convinced us that he is not only physically talented but also extremely hard-working, and ambitious with great character. This combination with our developmental program makes us thrilled about Kenny’s future,” Betko said.
Last year during the BBF’s Summer of Thunder, Isnord got an opportunity to play for the Raw Talent team as they went up against top National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I schools – the University of Memphis and Georgetown University included.
The high-flying dunk machine captivated spectators and he also showed an ability to block shots. Along with his athleticism, Burrows said that Isnord brings a lot of positive attributes to the academy such as his work ethic, shooting skills and defensive ability. Burrows plays in France and said he will still be mentoring the promising forward.
Raw Talent is looking to sign its first female player this year. Burrows said that as long as he is here and playing professionally, he will continue to use his platform to create opportunities for Bahamian players to further their skills.
Burrows thanked MacFit 360, Dr. Virginia Chan at Advanced Physiotherapy and the BBF for their partnership with Raw Talent. Any person or entity interested in becoming a partner with Raw Talent can contact Burrows via email at jaraunburrows@gmail.com.
source https://thenassauguardian.com/bahamian-kenny-isnord-signs-three-year-pro-deal/
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