Two years ago, he was the U23 MVP. This year, in Tortola, he walked away with MVP, Best Scorer, AND Best Server titles — and a gold medal around his neck after Saint Vincent battled back from a set down to beat Saint Lucia in the final.
We caught up with the 2026 ECVA Men's MVP to talk growth, gold, and where he goes from here.
Q: You've gone from U23 MVP to Senior Men's MVP for St. Vincent — walk us through that jump. What's changed in your game since 2023?
"I think the biggest change has been maturity and consistency. In 2023, I was playing with a lot of energy and instinct, and winning the U23 MVP gave me confidence that I belonged at that level. Since then, I've learned how to manage games better, make smarter decisions under pressure, and contribute even when I'm not at my best offensively.
I've also become more complete defensively and more comfortable taking responsibility in big moments. Moving from U23 to the senior team, you realize you can't just rely on talent — you have to understand the game, stay disciplined, and bring the same level every night."
Q: SVG dropped the first set to Saint Lucia in the final, then won three straight for gold. What happened in that huddle between sets one and two?
The coaching staff didn't just ask the team to "try harder" — they broke down exactly what Saint Lucia was doing well and reworked the game plan around it. And it showed immediately.
Set two flipped the script entirely: 25-17 to SVG, a mirror image of the opener. They didn't let up, closing it out 25-13 in set three. Head coach Duane Daniel pointed to discipline, punctuality, and practice as the foundation that made the turnaround possible.
Q: You picked up MVP, Best Scorer and Best Server this tournament. Which of those three means the most to you personally, and why?
"The MVP means the most to me. The Best Scorer and Best Server are special awards, but MVP feels like recognition of my overall contribution to the team and the tournament. It tells me that the work I put in throughout the competition — scoring, serving, defending and helping my teammates — made a difference.
At the end of the day, though, winning the gold medal with my teammates is what I'm most proud of. The individual awards are a bonus."
Q: Take us back to how you first got into volleyball — was there a moment you knew this was the sport for you?
"I was first introduced to volleyball through school, initially motivated by curiosity and a desire to try something new. As I continued playing, I developed a genuine passion for the sport. I was drawn to its competitiveness, the importance of teamwork, and, most importantly, the sense of progress I experienced each time I stepped onto the court.
I realized volleyball was truly the right path for me when I began competing at a higher level and discovered how strongly I wanted to challenge myself. From that point forward, volleyball evolved from simply being a sport I enjoyed into something I was genuinely committed to pursuing."
Q: With back-to-back MVP honors at different levels now to your name, where do you see you heading — regionally or beyond?
"Winning back-to-back MVP awards has given me confidence, but honestly, I see them as just the beginning. I don't want to be known only as one of the best players in the region — I want to use volleyball as a pathway to international opportunities, including scholarships that can help me pursue higher education while continuing to develop as an athlete.
My goal is to earn a scholarship that will allow me to study, compete, and grow in an international environment. I want to gain experience outside the Caribbean and eventually compete at the highest international level possible, while representing Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on bigger stages.
I'm proud of what I've accomplished so far, but I'm not satisfied. I have much bigger goals — and I'm prepared to put in the work to build an international future that can inspire the next generation of volleyball players back home to believe they can reach those levels too."
🏐 Two-time MVP. Gold medalist. Just getting started. Congratulations, Jamaar Crooper — SVG and the region are watching where you go next.
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