FRED STURRUP, NG Associate Editor, frederick@nasguard.com, frobertsturrup@gmail.com

This past weekend in Bimini, a 'special' athlete who is the epitome of that classification, was on display at the Gateway Sporting Arena.

Bahamas Basketball Federation President Lawrence Hepburn pointed him out to me, this youth, Kipling Fowler. We were watching the Jack Hayward High and Tabernacle High senior boys teams in their first encounter during the Gateway Invitational Tournament.

I saw this incredible athlete, running all-out on every play, extending himself on both ends of the court, working the ball on the dribble, passing off with efficiency at times and on other occasions going to the basket with authority. He crashed the boards, blocked out and just simply looked remarkable. I thought though that he seemed sort of overly-animated, maybe too zestful, moving at a pace at times just a tad beyond his mates on the floor.

This I said to Hepburn. His explanation was simply put but most surprising for me.

"He's a special athlete," Hepburn informed.

I was speechless for a moment. I had never seen the young man play, actually never saw the vast majority of participants in the tournament play before. It was an enlightening moment for me and sent the message home that I must find the time to see more of our young talent in competition. This young man, Kipling Fowler, given his circumstances, is an extraordinary human being and athlete. For him to be doing what he does on the court, excelling on par and above those peers fortunate enough to have been born with no characteristics at all of the 'special kind' is truly mind-boggling.

It almost seems out of order to categorize him as a 'special' athlete. In fact, the word special could be applied to him not just because of a handicapped situation, but also for his above-average ability to play and understand the game of basketball. Think what he would be like if he did not have those moments when his 'understanding' of things could be termed 'not quite as it would be' for the ordinary youth.

He is an amazing individual.

Small wonder, Coach Ivan Butler gave him as much playing time as any of the other front-line senior boys at Jack Hayward High. There was this one play in particular that saw him grab a rebound, quickly pass out to the wing and actually beat everybody else down the court to play a significant role, blocking out for a teammate to get an easy basket.

I am quite sure, the magnitude of that play escaped many of the onlookers at the Gateway arena, but, Fowler understood just what he did. He gave a little fist pump of satisfaction and then 'high-fived' the scorer. Oh, he is special alright.

The panel of coaches and whoever selected the tournament's most valuable player thought as much of his showing throughout the tournament. He was selected the Most Valuable Player.

The entire Jack Hayward High squad, all of the players performed at the highest level in the tournament. There were clutch performances across the board, otherwise they would not have won, but if one of them deserve to be 'specially' spotlighted, it is Kipling Fowler

This is a salute to you young man!

Kudos go out also to Coach Butler, your teammates who have fully accepted you and all of those who have had the patience to work to help bring you to this level.

You are a bright light for the youth of the nation, a shining example of the incredible role that sports plays in the development process of a nation.