AMERICUS — Former Georgia Southwestern men's basketball standout Chandler Thomas has been selected to participate in the 2016 Athletes in Action New Zealand Basketball Tour from July 24 through August 14. The team is made up of 10 players from 10 different universities from across the United States.
Before embarking to New Zealand, the team will attend a five-day training camp in Los Angeles, Calif., where they will train for games and prepare for their cross-cultural experience. In New Zealand, games are scheduled with university teams, clubs teams, and the New Zealand Breakers Development team. The team will also conduct youth camps and get to experience the local culture and see what is considered one of the most beautiful places on earth.
The team is being coached by Kelly Combs, who has 18 years of college coaching experience and has been on the Athletes in Action Staff since 2010. This is the third New Zealand tour he has coached (2013 & 2015).
"I am very excited about this group of young men," Combs said. "I think they are all great people as well as basketball players. I believe this is a great opportunity for these young men to get international playing experience while giving them a chance to grow in their faith. It will be a life-changing experience."
"Basketball provides such a unique experience for these guys," tour director Jason Stankus said. "Many have never left North America and because of basketball they will get to go halfway around the world developing friendships with the influencers of a country."
Thomas played in 24 games last season as a graduate student at GSW after transferring from NCAA Division I Ohio University. The Indianapolis, Ind., native averaged 11.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game for the Hurricanes and posted three double-doubles. Thomas led the Peach Belt Conference with an impressive 66.9 shooting percentage and was named to the 2015-16 Peach Belt All-Academic Team.
For more information about Athletes in Action, visit www.goaia.org
2016 New Zealand Tour Team |
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| # |
Name | Ht | Wt | Pos | School | Hometown | ||||
| 4 |
Pierre Zook |
5-10 | 165 | G | Biola University | McMinnville, Ore. | ||||
| 5 | Xavier Moon |
6-2 | 170 | G | Morehead State |
Goodwater, Ala. | ||||
| 6 | Chris Collins |
6-2 | 185 | G | Texas A&M | Friendswood, Texas | ||||
| 7 | Dallas Cameron |
6-2 | 185 | G | Stephen F Austin | Nacogdoches, Fla. | ||||
| 8 | Bryan Michaels |
6-3 | 210 | G | Concordia University | Kalispell, Mont. | ||||
| 9 | Chandler Thomas |
6-6 | 220 | F | GSW | Indianapolis, Ind. | ||||
| 10 | Bouna Ndiaye |
6-6 | 210 | F | Northwest Nazarene University | Bergen, Norway | ||||
| 11 | Evan Bradds |
6-7 | 200 | F | Belmont University | Jamestown, Ohio | ||||
| 12 | Dillon Pollard |
6-7 | 215 | F | University of Mobile | Huntsville, Ala. | ||||
| 13 | Rashawn Thomas |
6-8 | 235 | F | Texas A&M Corpus Christi | Oklahoma City, Okla. | ||||
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| Head Coach |
Kelly Combs | Eastern Kentucky University |
Jamestown, Ohio |
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| Assistant Coach | Evan Burns | Pittsburg State University | Kansas City, Kan. | |||||||
| Tour Director | Jason Stankus | Miami University | Knoxville, Tenn. | |||||||
| Student Assistant | Justin Chartrand | Morehead State University | Dayton, Ohio | |||||||
| Student Trainer | Katelyn Combs | Wilmington College | Jamestown, Ohio | |||||||
Additional links:
The New Zealand team blog
AIA Basketball on Twitter
AIA Basketball on Facebook
Special thanks to Athletes In Action for its contribution to this story