2-2-2008 – Damion Staple of Seivwright Gardens , and Tivoli Gardens High School , was one of five athletes inducted into the Southeastern Illinois College (SIC) “Hall of Fame” on Saturday, February 2, 2008. Staple excelled as a member of the basketball team from 2001-2003.
During his tenure at SIC, Staple was considered one of the best post players at the Junior College rank. In 2002-2003 his SEICC squad ended the season with a school-record 34-2 record, winning the Great Rivers Athletic Conference title and the NJCAA Region XXIV Championship. The squad was rated No. 2 in the final NJCAA poll and advanced to the NJCAA national tournament, losing in the opening round to eventual national champion and top-ranked Southeastern Iowa . Staple earned All-Conference, All-Region and All-American honors prior to his enrollment at Iowa State University . The Cyclones reached the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) Final Four in 2004 and the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2005.
Staple is a member of the Jamaica Basketball Men’s Senior National Team, serving as co-captain during the 2004 and 2006 campaigns. He was a key contributor to the squad’s gold medal winning performance at the 2006 Caribbean Basketball Championships held at the Indoor Sports Center in Kingston .
Staple has played basketball professionally in both Europe and South America, and recently returned from a stint in Bolivia .