A team of Bermuda basketball players are hoping to hit the jackpot when they compete in the Las Vegas School High School Christmas Classic later this month.

National team player Chris Crumpler will accompany the 15-man all-star squad to the City of Lights event on Boxing Day as part of his 'ministry' to help youngsters fulfill their life goals within the sport.

Crumpler, head coach of CedarBridge Academy, is sure some of his young charges possess the talent to catch the eye of US college scouts and reckons the Christmas Classic is the ideal stage for them to shine.

Players from across the Island have come together to form the team and help bridge the divide that Crumpler believes exists between private and public school pupils. Last Christmas he took players exclusively from CedarBridge Academy to the tournament but is now banking on the best-of-Bermuda to hold their own against teams from throughout the US.

"Last year was a good tournament and gave good exposure to the game for some of the kids, but I didn't have pure basketball players. Maybe four or five were pure ballers," says Crumpler.

"I then took a few kids from a number of local schools to a camp in Florida over the summer and it got them exposed to the sport and they loved it.

"The players from CedarBridge came into the fold and got stuck in and I took them as well. In a sense it was a blessing, as I didn't really know about the divide between private and public school pupils.

"I brought these boys together and by living with each other while they were away they realised that we're all Bermudians, no matter what part of the Island we live or what school they go to.

"Now when I see the boys, they ask about each other instead of last year when there was a mini hatred towards each other. Once they realised they were representing their country, all the animosity left and it was a true blessing to see."

Certain requirements have had to be met by the 'class of 08' with grades and school attendance records a contributing factor as to who goes to Vegas and who doesn't.

Squad members also volunteered at the World Rugby Classic last month, helped park cars during October's Music Festival, cleaned up the streets of Devonshire by picking up trash and regularly attend church together.

"This is a programme we're trying to develop," Crumpler added. "My relationship with the Department of Youth and Sport is fantastic and I've a few of my own sponsors helping out.

"We're using this trip to Vegas to make all these kids better people. If the players have an 'F' for any subject they can't practise until it's rectified. They know what's expected of them and the results thus far have been great.

"I sent out a flyer to each school because I wanted everyone to have the chance to be exposed to this trip and make them aware there's more to life than Bermuda.

"I've three kids from Warwick Academy, one from Mount Saint Agnes, two from Berkeley, one from Adult Education and the rest spread out throughout the other schools.

"We also go to church together and now we're working with the Bermuda Basketball Association (BBA) to throw a send-off game before we leave to acknowledge the players and the parents for their hard work and dedication to this initiative.

"I'm so excited as last year there was a 16-team tournament in which scouts were watching the games via webcast and this year we are going to a 32-team tournament."

Crumpler is in the process of having university scouts come to Bermuda to assess the top prospects.

He is also planning to take a team to Nova Scotia, Canada, to gain more exposure.

"Every summer and Christmas I want my boys to go away and get involved in camps and tournaments because that's the best way for them to get exposure," Crumpler added.