HISTORY:
We are a company established in 1985 to arrange domestic
and international basketball competition. Our staff is comprised of former
coaches and players who have an outstanding network of basketball contacts
around the world. All but one of our staff members competed in athletics at
the collegiate level.
Over 200 collegiate and high school teams participate
annually in tours and tournaments organized by Basketball Travelers, Inc. In
addition, we organize NCAA foreign exhibition games as well as international
Olympic-qualifying tournaments for national teams.
As basketball's popularity and skill level continues
to grow around the world, Basketball Travelers, Inc. seeks not only to contribute
to the sport's development, but also to facilitate goodwill and understanding
between nations and peoples of all backgrounds.
STAFF:
Nels Hawkinson, Executive Director
Nels is the executive director of BTI and is a well-known and respected member
of the international basketball community. Nels has a masters degree in Sports
Administration, has played and coached in the US and overseas, and is a certified
FIBA instructor. He has traveled to 50+ countries to establish his network
of international basketball contacts.
Neal Holden, President
Neal directs the business and administrative end of BTI. His knowledge of computers
and background as a systems analyst have been instrumental in keeping BTI's
daily operations running smoothly and efficiently. Neal has a master's degree
in Business Administration and also has experience playing and coaching professional
basketball in France and Norway.
Erik Evans, Vice President - Tournaments
Since 1992, Erik has been running the high school San Diego Surf 'N
Slam Tournament, which has grown into one of the largest Christmas-time high school
competitions in the U.S. Erik also coordinates the men's NCAA Division I MTE tournaments such as Basketball Travelers and World Vision Classics. Erik played basketball during his undergraduate years at Seattle Pacific University
and also interned at BTI.
Nancy Hawkinson, Creative Services Director
Nancy’s duties include updating our two websites, writing the company newsletter,
and adding the special details that make our tours and tournaments special. She has worked for BTI since 1988, but after the birth of her and
Nels’ two children, she now works only part-time.
Nancy played basketball at the University of Washington and professionally in
Denmark.
Jason Sarkies, Tournament Director/Sponsorship Coordinator
Jason directs the Phoenix Cactus
Jam, a boys and girls high school and Men’s Div. III basketball tournament
in the Tempe area held every Christmas. He also oversees coordination of summer overseas tours. Jason
played football at Willamette University and finished his undergraduate work at
Seattle Pacific University. After completing his masters in Athletic Administration
at Ohio State, he began working full-time for BTI in 1995.
Craig Jonas, Marketing Consultant
Craig markets BTI to collegiate coaches nationwide and also consults on BTI's
sponsorship and television contracts. He recently stepped down as VP of Business
Development for SportVision and Coaches Edge to pursue duties as a marketing consultant
with the Jonas Group and to complete his PhD from Kansas University in Sport Psychology.
Craig coached at Lakeland College and has served as an advisor on the Olympic
Committee and the South African Professional Basketball League. He is also a certified
FIBA clinician. Craig lives in Littleton, Colorado with his wife, Seanna, and
their two children.
Jennifer Ashby, Tour Administrator/Tournament Director
Jenn co-directs the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam, BTI's Division I tournament
in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. Jenn also works directly with Nels, primarily handling
the administrative details involved in the organization of foreign and domestic
tours. Jenn played basketball at Puget Sound Christian College.
Becky Johnson,
Travel Manager
Becky brings over 28 years of experience in the travel industry
to Basketball Travelers. Becky coordinates the air ticketing and
hotel bookings for our many tours and tournaments.
Brooke Poraj-Kuczewski, Tour Administrator
Since 2002, Brooke brings Division I coaching and playing experience to her position
here at BTI as a tour and tournament administrator. Her main duties will be to
direct the "Junkanoo Jam" Grand Bahama Island women’s NCAA Div. I basketball tournament and coordinate summer tours. Brooke graduated from UNLV, where she played four years of basketball,
followed by one year as an assistant coach. She hopes to pursue a masters degree
in Sports Management.
Jason Taylor, Director for Turkey
Jason is a 1992 graduate of California State University, Chico. While there
he was a member of 3 Conference Champion teams under Prescott Smith. His passion
for basketball and travel have always coincided. Jason founded the New Life
Basketball Tournament in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan after living there for one year.
He then came back to the States to play 5 seasons for Athletes in Action's USA
team and numerous international teams. In 2003, Jason and his wife Sara moved
to Istanbul, Turkey with their 3 children where he enjoys the responsibility
of looking out for BTI's future business interests. Jason also serves as a sport
consultant to the wide variety of professional sports teams throughout Turkey.
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