Gabi bounces to UK

A Caymanian teenager is realising his dream to pursue a basketball career by attending a specialist course in the sport at a college in the UK.

Gabriel Oplustil is one of a few Caymanians attending high school in England tailored specifically for basketball and the only one ever accepted by Moulton College’s basketball academy. The college is near Northampton, about two hours north of London.

Students are trained in a professional environment, preparing to be top hoopsters. Oplustil, 17, has been part of the Cayman Islands Basketball Association since he was 14. A shooting guard, the 5ft 11ins youngster was Jr. NBA champion twice in Cayman and MVP.

He left Grand Cayman in August to attend Moulton College for two years to complete a Sports Level 2 course. After that he intends to attend university in London. Tom Brinkley is the head of basketball at Moulton College and has helped transform its academy to one of the most respected in the UK. Brinkley was named best coach by the Basketball England East Midlands Education Institute in 2023.

The best aspect about attending school in England is that a Caymanian or British student doesn’t pay for high school, which is different from the USA. And the education level is far better there than America. Oplustil had to pass an interview process to be accepted. Well-being and safeguarding is a huge part of the college’s ethos. He has access to medical practitioners and psychologists 24/7.

Oplustil has settled in quickly. He said: “Moulton College really impresses me. It is a fantastic atmosphere. It’s great that teachers are on the campus 24/7. They help the students to cope mentally with living away from their parents. They keep the parents informed at all times.”

Obviously, reaching the NBA is the ultimate goal but there are many professional leagues worldwide and if he doesn’t make it as a player, a coaching career or something related is fine. Oplustil got accepted through Caleb Winspear who used to live in Cayman and now plays professionally and coaches in Northampton. He is Gabi’s mentor.

Surprisingly, Oplustil was born in Brazil and never played any sports seriously until arriving in Cayman seven years ago. He joined the Purple Dragon karate gym gaining a purple belt before focusing on basketball. Oplustil is now totally committed to representing Cayman. He wants to excel and make Cayman, the place he now calls home, proud of him. 

He passed through London on his way to Moulton College in August and found time to get a stadium tour with his mother Ale and stepdad Beco at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge, guided by former Cayman journalist Ron Shillingford.