Few sporting stories resonate as profoundly as the one of Jehu Lafeuillee.
After arriving in Barbados 10 years ago by a twist of fate, this 6 ft 8 inch forward from the serene shores of St Andrew, Grenada, has already left his mark on the island’s the basketball landscape.
Lafeuillee’s journey began when he came to Barbados in the summer of 2014, with aspirations of furthering his education in the United States. However, when those plans fell through, a family friend suggested he stay on the island to finish his schooling.
That twist of fate would lead him to the basketball courts of Barbados and beyond.
His academic pursuits took him from Ellerslie to Combermere, and eventually to the US where he would studied Psychology and Criminal Justice at Indiana University East.
While there, the 26-year-old won the River State Conference Championship to go to the national tournament, but due to COVID-19 the competition was cancelled in his senior year.
Despite his international stints, including playing professionally in Spain, Lafeuillee’s heart remained tethered to Barbados.
In an interview with Barbados TODAY after the close of the Barbados Amateur Basketball Association’s (BABA) 2024 season where he represented Premier League outfit Lakers, Lafeuillee, known by his peers as ‘Hu’ or ‘Jay’, thanked his family for supporting him on his journey.
He was also full of praise for his current coach at the Lakers, Derek Browne, who invited him to try out and later play for the then Barbados Lumber Company Lakers in the BABA’s Second Division.
Speaking about his growth as a basketball player over the years, from a role player to now dominating the league, Lafeuillee admitted he was not ready to take to the court in a competition when he first moved to Barbados.
“What made me push was the work I had been putting in. I decided to trust the work I had done and it has continued and it is paying off. I am just going with the flow and trusting the process.” Lafeuillee explained.
Jehu Lafeuillee dominated the BABA Premier League, leading the league in 2024 in points, rebounds and blocks. (Photo by Zahir Motara)
“I am proud about where I came from to where I am right now, however, I am trying to take in this moment, enjoy it, but I also want to continue growing, developing, and getting better as time goes on.
“He (Browne) has made a huge impact on me and has pulled a lot of strings to get me out there. Also, Renaldo Maughn, the coach of Pinelands has also been a big help to me over here. Cosmo Edwards and Zahir Motara also helped. From the time I arrived here, it has just been an outflow of love and support and I really appreciate that from those guys,” he added.
His hard work and dedication to the sport has definitely paid off.
In the 2024 season, Lafeuillee led the league in scoring (24.9 points), 13.6 rebounds and 3.7 blocks. He reintroduced an aggressive style of play, reminiscent of the greats from yesteryears, thrilling fans and drawing admiration across the board.
His on-court prowess made him well-loved amongst the basketball circles, so much so, fans came out to watch the Lakers, just to catch a glimpse of him.
But the impact of the humble and soft-spoken forward stretches beyond mere scoring.
Described as a “walking double-double,” his ability to dominate the paint while running the floor with almost graceful precision brought life back to the Lakers’ game. His style, often compared to that of his favourite NBA player Giannis Antetokounmpo, emphasizes his hard work and dedication, qualities endearing him to fans and fellow players alike.
Despite his tremendous improvement, Lafeuillee said he remains inspired to push harder.
“My inspiration is that ever since I started playing, my goal was to be a professional basketball player and I am a professional right now.
“After I finished university, I went on to play two seasons in Spain. I am just waiting on the right call before I head back up. My first year there I played for Caceres Basket and then I played with Jeventud Alcala in Madrid in my second season.” he pointed out.
Off the court, Lafeuillee shone a light on other interests besides basketball, stating he loved traveling.
“I love to travel and learning about different cultures and their way of life. Food, I love cooking and trying foreign or new cuisine, and lastly, fitness and exercising,” he said.
In the long term, Lafeuillee plans to give back to the youth, drawing from his own experiences and the support network which bolstered his career.
His advice to young players is simple, “Stay true to yourselves and keep God first. Everything else will fall into place.”
The post Lafeuillee: From Grenada to Bajan basketball star appeared first on Barbados Today.
