Last night we introduced you to the new coach of the Belize national basketball team Marques Johnson.
He has a daunting job: in just three weeks he has to put together a team that carries Belize's most earnest hopes to medal in the Centrobasket Championships to be played in the Dominican Republic from July fifth to the eleventh.
As Jules Vasquez, found out when it comes to coaching, Marques Johnson surely does have the right pedigree - but can he put it together? Here's more.
Jules Vasquez, Reporting
This is footage of Marques Johnson from his NBA years - at the time an All star forward with the Milwaukee Bucks seen here in the 1983 Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics.
This is him in the 1975 NCAA championship John Wooden's last game when UCLA won the championship in its game against Kentucky.
No doubt, Johnson comes with major coaching pedigree
Marques Johnson, Coach National Team
"My NBA coach Don Nelson, my first seven years as a player who taught me the game on the pro level is the winningest coach all time in NBA history but I have a lot of confidence that I've been exposed to much greatness in this game of basketball."
But Johnson will need support, certainly the input of former coach Kevin Seroki:
Paul Thompson, President of the BBF
"We believe that this tournament is the highest tournament that we have ever been to and we believe that for us to move on and advance, and move on to the other level we believe we needed to strengthen our coaching staff among other things and so we looked around and we came up with Marques Johnson and we decided that we would go with Marques Johnson as head coach for the men's national team for the Centrobasket in the Dominican Republic."
Marion Alley, Reporter
"Do you think that Mr. Johnson has enough time and will be able to work with these fellows to make them the best they can be?"
Paul Thompson
"Well Mr. Seroki has agreed to be on the coachng staff and he will be an integral part of the coaching staff as you said he coached the COCABA games in Cancun and so he will be very helpful with coach Johnson and so we believe that what coach Johnson bring goes beyond our national team, we are looking towards not only the national team but opportunities and doors that may be open with him coming here."
But before those doors open, tough competition will have to be faced and conquered:
Marques Johnson
"So there's going to be some quality competition I've look at some of the teams that played Mexico, I've watch Puerto Rico play, the Dominican Republic. It's going to be some tough players including Al Horford and Charlie Villanueva. But I think the talent level here, if we can get this thing together, get the proper players here in town to represent their country in this tournament, I think we can compete with just about anybody in the tournament getting these guys to play tough defense and really have some pride and not allowing other teams to score easily. Our team is going to score, these players are great players we are talking about. They're going to be some great talent, they are going to score points but our goal is try and make it as difficult as possible for them to score."
25 players have been called to try out for the national team...
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