Hope College men’s basketball coach Greg Mitchell and forward Preston Granger have been invited to take part in a tour of Brazil this month.
The July 8-17 event sponsored by USA Sports Tours & Events will feature four games
against Brazilian Under-22 junior teams. Mitchell will lead a group of 10 selected
NCAA Division III men’s basketball players, including Granger.
“I’m honored and grateful to coach a group of outstanding men who will represent the
United States and Division III men’s basketball,” Mitchell said. “The opportunity
to compete internationally is a tremendous privilege and the trip will offer us all
the chance as coaches and players to celebrate the role basketball plays in our lives.
“I’m really looking forward to the relationships that we will build as a team as we
compete in and tour such amazing country. Having Preston as a member of the team is
an added bonus. I’m really looking forward to working with him and seeing him compete
at this level.”
The USA women’s team will be coached by Mark Morefield of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas).
Ron Smith, Director of USA Sports Tours & Events, said team members have been recognized
at national, regional and conference levels.
“This is an outstanding group of basketball players that come from 13 different states
and 16 different colleges and universities from across the United States,” Smith said.
“We feel that we have some of the best of the best representing almost every Region
in the country. These players have been high achievers both on the court and in the
classroom. They represent everything good that the NCAA Division III institutions
have to offer. ”
The USA Division III men’s & women’s teams will begin their Brazil Tour 2019 in Orlando,
Florida on Monday, July 8.
After team orientation in Orlando, the teams departs for Sao Paulo, Brazil. They will
practice in the city of Jundiai, Sao Paulo on Tuesday, July 9 before playing a doubleheader
on Wednesday, July 10 against a junior team from Jundiai.
On Thursday, July 11, the USA teams will travel to the city of Sao Paulo and play
vs. U22 teams from Sao Paulo.
On Friday, July 12, the USA Teams fly to Rio de Janeiro in advance of games play on Sunday, July 14 vs. Queimados. The final games will be played on Monday, July 15 at Fluminese Clube in Rio.
While in Brazil, the teams will experience educational, cultural and social aspects of Brazilian life through city, school and sports club visits.
2019 USA D-3 Men’s Basketball Team - Brazil Tour
Andrew Eberhardt LeTourneau University
Andrew Fitch SUNY Canton
Preston Granger Hope College
Danyon Hempy Wooster College
Doug Levy John Jay College
Conor Riordan Simpson College
Jake Ross Springfield College
Tharon Suggs Emory & Henry College
Randall Walko The College of New Jersey
Nathaniel West LeTourneau University
Head Coach – Greg Mitchell, Hope College