DeAndre Ayton, an NBA star athelete with Caribbean roots, through his Ayton Family Foundation (AFF) have inaugurated their first project in Jamaica with the revitalization of the Cedar Spring Community Center in St. Elizabeth. The upgraded center offers food, school supplies, games, health services, and additional community support.
“Back to where it all began. Together, we opened the doors to a renewed Cedar Spring Community Center in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica — the first AFF project on the island! With food, games, school supplies, health services, and a lot of love, we celebrated the strength and joy of this beautiful community,” Ayton shared on Instagram recently. “Thank you to everyone who came out — we’re just getting started.”
Ayton was born in The Bahamas to a Nigerian father and a mother of Jamaican and Bahamian heritage. Several of his relatives joined him at the center’s opening to mark the occasion.
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Drafted first overall by the Phoenix Suns in 2018, the Bahamian center later played for the Portland Trail Blazers before signing a two-year, $16.6 million deal (with a 2026–27 player option) with the Los Angeles Lakers. In seven NBA seasons and 398 games, the 26-year‑old has averaged 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds.
DeAndre Ayton is part of a growing tradition of NBA players with Caribbean roots:
V.J. Edgecombe (Bahamas) was selected 3rd overall in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. A Baylor standout, the 6′4″ guard averaged 15.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists as a freshman and represents the latest in a line of Bahamian stars—including DeAndre Ayton—to make an NBA impact.
Other notable Jamaican-descendants: Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Timberwolves), his cousin Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder), Patrick Ewing (Hall of Famer, born in Kingston), Taj Gibson, and Kelly Olynyk have all proudly represented their heritage.
With Ayton’s latest move into Jamaican philanthropy and Edgecombe’s rise to the NBA, Caribbean basketball influence continues to grow—both on and off the court.
