Cape Verde Basketball

9th Feb, 2010

Jeff Xavier posting solid pro numbers in Spain!

Cape Verde National Team Member, guard Jeff Xavier, is averaging just over 15 points per game in the Spanish pro league. Xavier is in his first pro season, after an impressive collegiate career at Manhattan College and two years of play after transferring to Providence College. Xavier graduated from Providence College in ‘09.
Although Xavier is one of the latest additions to the Cape Verde National Team, he has quickly launched to the top of the scoring column, averaging greater than 20 points per game, including an average of 21.5 points per game in contests against New Zealand and Germany in the Olympic Qualifying tournament two years ago in Athens, Greece.

The Pawtucket, RI, native, a 6′1″ shooting guard, has the ability to be a prolific scorer, capable of slashing drives, and also a deft long range shot who hit as many as 7 3-point shots in a single game in college. Not afraid of competition, one of his over 20 point games, against Germany, had him perform despite facing the NBA star Dirk Nowitzki, and NBA player Chris Kaman. He has an overall dedication to the game and total court awareness, reminiscent of NBA players such as Boston’s Rajon Rondo.
Follow Xavier’s pro career, and the Cape Verde team, here, and on www.Africabasket.com

Go J/X, and go Cape Verde!

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Posted by: Dan Klotz
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Cape Verde Basketball

25th Sep, 2009

Cape Verde National Team player Jeff Xaviers signs 1st pro contract!

Jeff Xavier, the Pawtucket, RI native, a Cape-Verdean American and the newest member of the Cape Verde National Team, has signed his 1st pro contract. Xavier will play in Spain, on the same team as Joao Gomes, a former member of the Cape Verde team who has had tryouts with several NBA teams, including the Boston Celtics. Congratulations, Jeff, and best wishes!

Xavier, a 6′1″ shooting guard who has been described as a ‘pure shooter’ by college and pro coaches, was a star first at Manhattan College and later Providence College. At Providence College, he was a 2-year starter who averaged in double figures in scoring, and was known to be deadly from 3 point range. An aggressive player with incredible court sense and knowledge of the game, Xavier has led Cape Verde in scoring during 2 major international tournaments. His per-game average of 21.5 points per game during the Olympic Qualifying tournament in Athens, Greece, last year, was second only to the NBA superstar Dirk Nowitzki of Germany.

Since graduating from Providence College in 2008, this Spanish league contract represents his first pro experience, the first step in what is anticipated to be a lengthy and impressive professional career.

Good luck, Jeff, and good luck Cape Verde!

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Posted by: Dan Klotz
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Cape Verde Basketball

21st Aug, 2009

Cape Verde in African Tournament

Last year, Cape Verde stunned all of Africa, earning a Bronze medal in Angola, and along with it the right to play in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens, Greece. This year’s African Tournament, held in Libya, would not result in such glory for Cape Verde, no recreation of a Cinderella story. Cape Verde started strong with a win over Tunisia, but then suffered two key close losses to tough teams, before finishing strong with two dominant wins to place 13th. 13th in all of Africa for a team from a tiny island nation is not bad, but it is not taking home dazzling medal hardware either.

Jeff Xavier, playing in just his 3rd international tournament after graduating from Providence College, continues to pace Cape Verde offensively. Xavier had a staggering 35 points off 8 3’s in one contest, to go with 5 assists and 5 rebounds for the lightning quick, 6′1″ shooting guard.

Adding to the scoring, both in double digits, were Captain, guard Mario Correia, and longtime veteran guard Marques Houtmann. Both Correia and Houtmann have played professionally in Portugal and Angola, and Houtmann also played one season of U.S. minor league ball in the ABA.

The loss to Morocco, perenially one of Africa’s top teams and a team that has enjoyed good FIBA rankings, was a down-to-the-wire, razor thin margin of 86-83.

Blowout wins to finish the tourney strong, over Congo-Brazaville, 100-63, and Mozambique, 94-61, should give Cape Verde confidence.

Cape Verde typically competes in 2-3 major international tournaments a year (earning a Silver Medal in the Lusophone Games in Portugal last month), as well as hosting friendly contests against national teams such as Senegal. The team has been involved in events in recent years, some aligned with the U.N., that have brought NBA players to Cape Verde to provide free youth camps. The vast majority of the team players are professional basketball players, most currently playing in either Portugal or Angola. Several of the players on the roster were stars at U.S. colleges and Universities: Mario Correia: Bryant University, (NCAA DII); Marques Houtmann: Stonehill College (DII)/U-Mass Amherst (DI); Tony Barros: U-Mass Boston (DIII); and Jeff Xavier (Providence College: DI). In order to compete, players must be either Cape Verdean, or Cape Verdean American, able to prove that at least one Grand-Parent was born in Cape Verde.

Go, Cape Verde!

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Posted by: Dan Klotz
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Cape Verde Basketball

17th Aug, 2009

Cape Verde takes silver in 2nd Lusophone games!

The Cape Verde men’s national team beat host Portugal, but fell in the final contest to Angola, in the 2nd Lusophone games. The games are held every 2 years, and teams competing represent countries that speak Portuguese. Former Providence College guard Jeff Xavier, a Cape-Verdian American from Pawtucket, RI, continues to pace the team in scoring. Next up: the African tournament, which this year is being held in Libya. Go C.V.!