Close to a hundred young basketball players in St. Thomas hit the hardwood at Ivanna Eudora Kean’s gymnasium, learning from one of the biggest names in the sport. He’s an NCAA and NBA champion, on and off the court. These hoopsters were learning from Milt Newton, a Virgin Islander and the Assistant General Manager to the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks. This annual free basketball camp is held through Newton’s foundation he co-founded with his wife, the Emerald Gems Foundation.
“It’s very important. It’s like a life’s work because I put myself in their place. I was in their place at that age and wanted someone to pour into me and teach me and tell me how to do things. And tell me, like, I have this potential. And sometimes we don’t get that,” said Milt Newton, who’s hosted this annual basketball camp for eight years with his family.
This year 90 USVI youth participated in the 2023 Emerald Gems 8th Annual Free USVI Youth Basketball Camp. It’s a four-day camp and was held from July 27 to 28 for ages eight to 13 and July 29 to 30 for ages 14 to 17. Newton also brings down to the territory several basketball coaches with college and professional experience to help the youth.
“I felt it was really important for me to come back and give back to our youth. We’re all athletic. We can run, we can jump. But when it comes to the finer points of the game. I felt that was something we can definitely benefit from,” said Newton, who grew up in Bordeaux on St. Thomas.
In college, Newton won an NCAA Basketball Championship with the University of Kansas (1988). He also won an NBA title in 2021 with the Milwaukee Bucks in his position as the Assistant General Manager.
After this year’s camp wrapped up, Newton received a special recognition on Monday. He was honored at the USVI Legislature by St. Thomas Senator Ray Fonseca with an award for many years of giving back to USVI youth and helping grow basketball in the territory. Senator Fonseca shared gratitude for Newton during the award presentation.
“He’s a son of the soil. We’re very proud of him. He’s continued with the Emerald Gems Foundation to give back to the community of the Virgin Islands. We are so honored and blessed to have a Virgin Islander like this, that’s abroad and doesn’t forget his roots,” said Fonseca.
The award reads, “Presented to Milton N. Newton for your dedication and commitment to the youth of the Virgin Islands, from Senator Fonscea dated July 31, 2023.”
“One of the things we believe in is our youth. I believe that when we move on to become successful, in whatever it is that we do, it’s a very important thing to come back to the territory and uplift the youth, and try to give back to the youth. We do that through our Emerald Gems Foundation, conducting basketball camps and other educational excursions. So to be recognized by Senator Fonseca and the territory itself is a big privilege and something I don’t take for granted. Thank you very much,” said Newton.
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