USA Basketball Hoops For Troops Program To Reach Thousands Of Military Members And Their Families In July

Colorado Springs, Colo. • July 10, 2012

USA Basketball will connect with thousands of American military members and their families through a comprehensive series of activities during the USA Men’s and Women’s National Teams’ training and exhibition schedules this month as part of the Hoops for Troops program.

The activities, which include basketball clinics, special appearances, and access to USA Basketball exhibition games, are being conducted in coordination with the U.S. Department of Defense, Let’s Move(an initiative to solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation), and Joining Forces, an initiative to support and honor America’s service members and their families.  The activities will also be a significant part of the World Basketball Festival, which is being run in partnership with NIKE, Inc. and its leading basketball brands – Converse, Jordan Brand and Nike Basketball – in Washington, D.C. July 13 to 16. 

“When we take the court, we are mindful of the thousands of men and women who are representing our country and the sacrifice they and their families make on our behalf,” said Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball chairman.  “We are proud to support the Let’s Move and Joining Forcesinitiatives, and to work together with Nike to pay tribute to our servicemen and women in Las Vegas and Washington, D.C. as our teams prepare to represent our country with pride on the international stage.”  

Scheduled events include the following:

• Tuesday, July 10: USA Basketball will host a clinic for sons and daughters of American military members at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas on Tuesday, July 10 featuring Legends Teresa Edwards, Spencer Haywood, Chris Mullin, Lenny Wilkens, and Gary Payton.
• Thursday, July 12: Thanks to ticket purchases by USA Basketball Men’s National Team players, more than 1,300 American military members and their families will attend an exhibition game featuring the USA Men’s National Team and Dominican Republic at the Thomas & Mack Center on Thursday, July 12.
• Friday, July 13: USA Basketball will arrive in our nation’s capital on Friday, July 13 and continue to support the military through an exhibition game, an open practice, and two clinics.
• Saturday, July 14: A crowd of 3,100 military members and their families will attend a USA Basketball Men’s National Team open practice as part of the World Basketball Festival, held in partnership with NIKE Inc. at the Washington, D.C. Armory. USA Basketball Women’s National Team members Seimone Augustus, Swin Cash, Maya Moore, Candace Parker, and Lindsay Whalen, as well as USA assistant coach Doug Bruno and USA head coach Geno Auriemma, will hold a clinic for daughters of military members at the same location.
• Sunday, July 15: USA Basketball Legends Bill Walton (TBC), Lenny Wilkens, Alonzo Mourning, and Teresa Edwards will host a clinic at George Washington University’s Smith Athletic Center for children of U.S. military members.
• Monday, July 16: USA Basketball Legends Bill Walton, Lenny Wilkens, Alonzo Mourning, and Teresa Edwards will visit injured U.S. servicemen and servicewomen at Walter Reed Military Medical Center. That evening, both the USA women’s and men’s national teams will take on Brazil as part of the teams’ final exhibition games on U.S. soil. More than 1,400 military members will attend as guests of the USA players and will be honored through a variety of tributes to U.S. military members. 
• Friday, July 27: As part of the Hoops for Troops activities and in conjunction with NBA FIT and Let’s Move, USA Basketball legends will also visit the U.S. Ambassador’s residence in London on Friday, July 27, to host a basketball clinic.

Tiffany & Co., a USA Basketball partner, will, as part of its Global Community Cup program, support U.S. military-based charities for the games in Las Vegas and Washington, D.C. and the Special Olympics for the games in Manchester and Barcelona. In addition to supporting charities in conjunction with USA Basketball, the Global Community Cup will be awarded after each exhibition game with engravings that honor both teams and the standout player of the game. Tiffany & Co. designed and created the Global Community Cup in 2010.

Launched in 2006, Hoops for Troops is the global social responsibility program for USA Basketball that works to provide support for military personnel and their families through programs, events, and partnerships. During the 2012 USA Basketball tour stopping in Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., Manchester, Barcelona, and London, the program will personally touch thousands of military service members and their families through grassroots efforts such as clinics, open practices, and in-arena activations.

About USA Basketball

Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for men's and women's basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the United States by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training, and fielding of USA teams that compete in FIBA-sponsored international basketball competitions, as well as for some national competitions.

Since 2008, USA Basketball men's and women's teams have compiled a sterling 134-6 win-loss record in FIBA or FIBA Americas competitions. USA teams are the current men's and women's champions of the Olympics and FIBA World Championship; FIBA women's U19 world champions; the men's and women's title holders for the FIBA U17 World Championship; and the men's and women's U18 and U16 FIBA Americas champions. USA Basketball currently ranks No. 1 in all five of FIBA's world ranking categories, including combined, men's, women's, boys and girls.

Connect with USA Basketball on facebook.com/usabasketball, twitter.com/usabasketball and www.youtube.com/therealusabasketball.