Caribbean Basketball Networks Senior Sendoff Series
Michael Bonaparte

Searching history, there have been tons of collegians, professionals, draft picks and even a few championship game participants who claim the Caribbean as their home…However, there haven’t been to many players coming from the Caribbean that have actually clutched a Collegiate National Championship Trophy (irregardless of the level)….In year’s gone past, One of the most standout examples was Puerto Rican and (Marquette University guard) Butch Lee from Marquette’s 1977 NCAA championship team. A little more recently, others might remember St. Vincentian sister Sophia Young doing the honors at Baylor University. One of the latest instances manifest itself in Grenada Native Michael Bonaparte… did we mention that he also laid claim to the Most Valuable Player Award just for good measure. Caribbean Basketball Networks caught up with the two time All-American and Irish League professional…

(All Visual Media courtesy of The University of Ozarks and The Michael Bonaparte Media Library)

Caribbean Basketball Networks Correspondent: Hello and Welcome to Caribbean Basketball Networks…
Senior Sendoff Series-Michael Bonaparte: Thank you.

Caribasket:Tell us about the journey that you took to get here and Tell us about your most memorable experience of basketball back in your native country?
Senior Sendoff Series-Michael Bonaparte: (laughs) If mi ah tell ya ya aga never would believe (laughs)…

Caribasket.net: Please…share it with the Caribbean Basketball Networks faithful?
Senior Sendoff Series - Michael Bonaparte: I was home (The St.Vincent and Grenadine islands)..and someone call me up and tell me that they were having this showcase/exposure camp…so I walk through the door and didn’t even know that I already start off wrong. It come up so sudden and I was rushing to get there but I still ended up walking in late. So I’m the guy that’s walking through the door whilst things are already going on and the first attention I get is negative from the jump. Then most of the cats in the camp are younger and have fresher legs than me…and they were fresh off of their seasons and I’m 19 and here I am…been outta high school for almost 3 years. But eventually, I get loose and slam on couple people chirren a few times and then the talk turn quick (laughs).

Caribasket.net: Yeah I know how that is…Please continue
Senior Sendoff Series - Michael Bonaparte: This guy who was the General Manager for the Charlotte Hornets was there and they took notice and started making some calls for me….But with so much people chattering ran my head and you being young and inexperienced, it was easy to fall into the hype and make a funny decision. I messed around following leads and listening to people talk they talk to me right up until its time for something to materialize and then they didn’t have nothing for me. Shoot..by the time I took stock, only offer I had left on the table was a partial scholarship to North Oklahoma Cc-Tonkawa. (Sucks teeth)

Caribasket.net: That happens alot when you don’t have the right people around you advising you..
Senior Sendoff Series - Michael Bonaparte: (Rass Clat)…Boyo ya dun kno!! Young and inexperience too, thats easy to get caught up in. So I go there…and was doing me ting as best I could..playing some good basketball and in the starting rotation and one day in practice tings fall apart. I go down, dunk on one boy, run down court and him try and get me back..I ended up blocking it… but I came down on his foot and it felt like I damn near popped everything in mi ankle. Me being a (expletive) win the battle but loose the war a kno!

Caribasket.net: Seen..
Senior Sendoff Series - Michael Bonaparte: Truin, I was able to come back by the late end of the regular season but the coach tell me that he basically had already made some adjustments and its nice to have me back but if he was to insert me I woulda thrown things off too much. The coach stuck with what was working at the time and Thats how basketball is sometimes..

Caribasket.net: How’d you get to College of The Ozarks (Branson, Missouri)…We met up at the 2oo6 NAIA National Championships (Which the University of Ozarks host annually) and how did they (Ozarks) help you future success?
Senior Sendoff Series-Michael Bonaparte:
Truin, the coach at the the school in Oklahoma, him call mi in his office after the season was over and say that basically I was out…so I didn’t stress on it..I just start to look for something else. Then someone get in touch with the people at The College of the Ozarks and I go there for a tryout…(Pauses then Laughs)….Boss…they already had their gymnasium set up for their graduation…School was dun most out, Chairs and stage and ting was in the gym see.(laughs) So themma work me out..OUTSIDE inna da hot sun king!! Just like back home. Little did they mussy know…Haha…I felt right at home. So I complete the work out and they offer on me right on the spot. So now I thinking how I already get catch before beating ran the bush and not signing and tings slip away…Truin Talk cheap here and I wasn’t for that no more…. so mi say not again and sign right dere. Couple years later..next thing ya know, I’m hoisting both trophies after winning the National Championship at The College of the Ozarks.

Caribasket.net: You go from, being the last signee to All-American in less than a year. Now the rest is history?
Senior Sendoff Series - Michael Bonaparte: No Dred….Truin, I did sign with a club team in England and I was feeling good cause I thought everything was jiggy…judgment the team ended up folding before the season even started and my agent had to quick fast hurry to find someplace for me to play.

Caribasket.net: How was your first year as a professional, Your numbers were pretty impressive (Editor’s Note: Bonaparte had averages of 24.3 points per game, 1o rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block per game in his first professional season)?
Senior Sendoff Series-Michael Bonaparte: It went pretty well, Ireland was Irie. I had to fight back some injuries but I think I played some good basketball and against some good competition. My Team the Dart Killester Tigers won the championship and is one of the premiere teams over there.

Caribbean Basketball Networks would like to thank 2oo7 National Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player Michael Bonaparte for his thoughts and reflections. We wish him the best of success in the future and until next time Blessings and Peace Eternal©