The Tampa Bay LakerCats coaching team at FSU Extreme Team Camp. Asst. Coach Jeanelle Burney, President and Head Coach, Jeffrey Amos, Vice President, Yolanda Amos and Asst Coach Debbie Fuller.
The Tampa Bay LakerCats and adults, first row, Yolanda Amos, Jeffrey Amos, Mariah Pinkney, Darasyn Bounds, Robin Bailey, Harmonie Charles, and Adiyah Jones. Second row, Jeanelle Burney, Debbie Fuller, Head Coach FSU Women’s Basketball, Brooke Wycoff, London Amos Roberts, Aaliyah Chandler and Julie Smalls.
BY MONIQUE STAMPS
Sentinel Staff Writer
Black Treasurers Investments (BIT) co-founders Jeffrey, and Yolanda Amos are continuing to make a huge difference in the lives of the youths they sponsor through their non-profit organization. In addition to their partnership with the Dream Center for court and classroom space, the pair are coaching young girls in basketball.
BTI’s purpose is youth development, and the methods of development are coaching and teaching young people to prepare them for their future through sports.
The organization provides girls and boys between the ages of 7 – 16 with the opportunity to gain experience through the fundamentals of basketball and free tutoring in math and reading.
BTI sponsors 3 teams, teen girls, 14-and-under boys, and 5th grade-and-under girls.
Jeff Amos, head coach of the girls’ basketball team, known as the LakerCats, says that annually, they take their teams around to basketball camps.
“This helps with their playing, and also, it helps their attitudes around sportsmanship, while honing their basketball skills”.
Recently, the girls team traveled to Florida State University to participate in a camp. FSU is a Division 1 school in basketball. The 10 teens learned team building and skills building.
The girls were chaperoned by Coach Jeff, Yolanda, the 2 Assistant coaches, and a parent.
Coach Jeff emphasized that parents are always invited to travel with the team.
“It was an excellent experience for our LakerCats teen AAU team, sponsored by BIT.”
“We are hoping to make this an annual event because of the incredible expertise shown by the coaches and staff.”
Jeff Amos states that BTI owes a great deal to Hillsborough County Commissioner Gwen Myers, who has championed the mission of BTI and sports for young people through funding.
“She is very supportive and has really come through for our kids. She is responsible for us being able to take our kids to Tallahassee.”
BTI works with kids year-round on a variety of subjects. Earlier in June, BTI held a financial workshop for teens. The workshop was specially designed to be appropriate and was sponsored by Chase Bank.
Tutoring in reading and math is also available to kids, along with coaching for personal growth.
The program has expanded from 8 students to over 50 students over the past few years.
For more information on BTI, or donations of time, money, or effort, please visit https://www.btigives.org.
