DMarley Elliott is taking the next step in his blossoming basketball journey. The 17-year-old wing player from St. Pius X Catholic High School in Atlanta, Georgia, is set to represent Jamaica at two key international events—the Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Americas Camp in El Salvador from May 30 to June 1, and the FIBA Centrobasket U17 Championships this July.
For Elliott, who will reunite with longtime friend and teammate Triston McDonald on the Jamaican national team, both tournaments are critical to his growth as a player and as a leader.
“When I go to Basketball Without Borders, I’m just trying to improve my skills and get better overall,” Elliot told Sportsmax.TV. “I’m focused on improving everything—not just one thing in particular—so that I can be more prepared for the FIBA Championships.”
That preparation will be bolstered by the chemistry he shares with McDonald, a fellow Atlanta-based talent and one of the top players in Jamaica’s U17 programme.
“Triston and I are good friends. We grew up together—we met at a basketball camp when we were little and started playing AAU together. Over the years we’ve become best friends, and our chemistry has only grown,” Elliott explained. “It means a lot to have a familiar face on the Jamaican team.”
The duo previously competed together in 2023, when Jamaica placed sixth at the regional U17 tournament. But this time, Elliot believes the team is better positioned to challenge for a podium spot.
“We’re going for number one,” he said with conviction. “But we know that comes with hard work. This year, we have a training camp before the tournament, so we’ll have time to build chemistry and push each other to be our best. That’ll make a big difference.”
Though still a high school student, Elliot already thinks beyond the game. “Basketball isn’t just about what I do on the court,” he said. “It’s also about leadership, discipline, and how I carry myself. I want to use basketball to help build my future.”
With aspirations to play at the collegiate level and ultimately in the NBA, Elliot is keeping his options open. “I’ve been approached by a couple schools, but I’m really open to wherever,” he said. “The dream is to play professionally one day—and yeah, growing up in Atlanta, I like the Hawks—but I’ll go wherever the opportunity takes me.”
Rooted in Jamaican pride, Elliott carries his heritage with him in everything he does.
“We’re all about Jamaica in my house,” he said. “We have flags up, Jamaican plates on the cars. We visit my grandparents in St. Elizabeth, and everything we do is about representing Jamaica.”
Those ties run deep. Before basketball commitments began filling his schedule, Elliot made frequent trips to the island—sometimes multiple times a year. Now, with the game taking centre stage, he visits at least once annually.
Still, he never forgets his roots—or his favourite foods. “Definitely oxtail and rice and peas,” he laughed. “And some jerk chicken, too.”
With his skillset evolving, his international profile rising, and his commitment to representing Jamaica unwavering, DMarley Elliott is poised to make a name for himself on the global stage—and he’s only getting started.
