The Jamaica Basketball Association (JaBA) has stepped up its search for players to bolster the national team for the Centrobasket tournament later this year and is particularly looking to fill the starting point guard position that will most likely be vacated by the US-based Chaz Carr.

Carr, a former standout from Boston University with years of experience on the European pro circuit, was a key component in Jamaica’s successful 2006 title run in the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships.

The six-foot, 27-year-old point guard was also in the line-up for Jamaica’s first game in the 2009 CBC Championships against Trinidad & Tobago in the United States Virgin Island (USVI). However, a hamstring injury in the opening minute ruled him out of the tournament, which Jamaica eventually went on to win.

“Chaz has served the country well. He’s a fantastic point guard but he has transitioned in his professional life and basketball is not so much his main focus. I think now we’re going to have to look forward and strengthen the point guard position,” stated Ajani Williams, president of JaBA.

Williams indicated that JaBA was currently looking at point guard prospects stateside, with one of them being Omari Lawrence, a 6’4”, 210-pound freshman at St. John’s University.

Lawrence has routinely had ball handling duties for St. John’s in his limited minutes off the bench and scouting reports widely profile him as an attacking guard who can spot up and shoot, but is at his best when going to the hoop.

The JaBA president also disclosed that local players would also get a look-in for the point guard spot. He identified Jovan Bailey of Urban Knights and the Port Royal Bulls’ Dovian Wade as possible candidates.

“We are also looking at developing our point guards here on the island as well, so we want to seriously engage Bailey and Wade and work on their talents between now and the middle of the year. We want to get them in the gym and put them through some professional workouts.”

JaBA’s effort to assemble the best team possible is part of an ambitious push to secure a berth in the 2012 Olympics in London. Centrobasket, which will be held in the second half of this year, is stepping stone to Olympic qualification.