April 26, 2007

Allendale, Mich. - Former Grand Valley State Laker guard, Courtney James, is one of 12 current and former collegiate basketball players from across the United States and the world that will come together to embark on a two-week competitive tour of top level professional teams in the Czech Republic.

In addition to James, also participating on this team will be Ian Hanavan (Evansville), Tim Lyle (James Madison), Jason McGraw (James Madison), Josh Naylor (Texas State), Gabe Norwood (George Mason), Boomer Herndon (Belmont), Tre Whitted (Marshall), and John Ofoegbu (Idaho Sate). These American players will be joined by two International players, Salavat Dautov (Russia) and Vladimir Buscaglia (Switzerland). Morris Michalski, the former head coach at Bryan College, will coach the team with Steve Tulleners as his assistant, a former player from Colorado State.

James played in 113 game for the Lakers from 2002-03 through the 2005-06 season. Courtney ranks 17th all-time in points scored at GVSU with 1,214, while also ranking fourth in Laker annals in assists (460), and ninth in made three-pointers (131). James led the Lakers to a 27-4 mark and a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship in his senior campaign.

The team will arrive in Prague, the capital city of Czech, on May 15th for a three-day training camp before beginning to practice and compete with one of the local professional teams. Following the extended time with team Sadska, the team is slated to play eight games over the remaining 10-day span along with speaking at schools and participating in local service opportunities. The goals of this tour are to provide a rich cross-cultural experience for each team member, serve and love all the people they meet, provide worthy competition for some of the best teams in Czech, build the Athletes in Action ministry in Czech, bring honor to Jesus Christ through sharing God's love and truth, and prompt good spiritual movements within that part of the world.

"We fully expect the personal growth and cultural exchange to be rich and life-changing," stated Michalski. "We are looking for victories both in and beyond competition and pray that we will receive them. This will be a whirlwind experience that I believe everyone on our team will embrace with arms wide open. The tour is looking for great battles to fight, great adventures to live, and great opportunities for personal growth, making better men not just better players."

Since 1966, Athletes in Action has been a global pioneer, innovator, and servant leader in sport ministry. AIA exists to change lives by building spiritual movements everywhere through the platform of sport: on the field, in the locker room, and under stadium lights. By speaking the language of sport--a language that breaks barriers, transcends differences, and is understood by virtually all--AIA brings Jesus and His message of victory into the hearts, homes and communities of millions around the world.

As of 2007, AIA has a ministry presence in 75 countries, on nearly 125 U.S. college campuses, and on 35 U.S. professional sports teams. Countless volunteers, thousands of athletes and more than 500 staff members stand together to share one message: Life's greatest victory is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Athletes in Action is a branch of Campus Crusade for Christ.