Veteran Jamaican basketball player Kimani Ffriend, who spend two years battling a vehicular manslaughter charge in Serbia in 2012, has returned to the country to play in the National Basketball League (NBL) that kicks off this weekend after a five-year absence.

Ffriend has had success playing in the basketball leagues across Europe, more recently in Serbia where he won the Most Valuable Player award averaging 22 points and 11 rebounds per game for Dynamic in the Serbian Basketball League.

He said he hopes to bring value to the NBL in his role as the centre for Running Rebels.

“For me personally it is a great privilege to play here in Jamaica, being able to play in front of my countrymen,” he told SportsMax.TV.

“As a professional I hope to add value, to show professionalism and what it takes to get to that next level. There is a lot riding on me playing in the NBL and I hope I can represent well.”

The league tips off on Saturday, February 10, inside the National Arena at 5 p.m (6 pm ECT). The competition will involve 23 teams spread across the island representing four conferences namely Southern, Eastern, Central and Western.

Teams will initially play in their conferences after which eight teams will qualify for the quarter-finals stage. The semi-finals and finals will be played in a best-of-three format, which ultimately will determine the champions.

The defending champions, when the league was last played in 2013, are Urban Knights.

Ffriend said the league, now that it is back up and running, will help expose some of Jamaica’s best basketball talent.

“I am happy that the league has started. It has been long overdue. It gives the youth something to do,” he said.

“It’s motivation and especially those who aspire to do greatness through basketball, not just here but maybe get a scholarship to go overseas. So I think this is a great opportunity right now, after five years, when basketball has grown globally, it will give the younger players just starting out an opportunity to be seen and get the exposure to get a scholarship or even make it as a professional.”

The Southern Conference will play games at the National Area, while Eastern Conference games will be played at Folly Oval. Western Conference teams will play matches at the Montego Bay Cricket Club and those in the Central Conference will play at Manchester High School.