Hawks Basketball Applies Faith, Wisdom, And Service In Spain

MONTGOMERY,Ala.- From June 28th to July 5th of 2024, Huntingdon men's basketball program, led by Coaches Zac Richards and Justin Allison, traveled to Spain for a week, taking on multiple service projects, team building exercises, leadership development, tourism, and friendly competition.

 The following athletes were able to participate in this incredible opportunity:

• Nate Johns

• BJ Brown

• Tate Goolesby

• Sam Blakeney

• Richie Hicks

• Donovan Wilson

• Jaylen Washington

• Myles Murphy

• Myles Johnson

• Lane White

• Jeremy Autin

• Isaiah Matthews

• Marcus Townsend 

• Randall Davis

• Jonathon Page

• DaQuan Hawkins

• Will Shirley

• Jeremiah Carnegie

Partnering with coach Dennis Chamberlain and Global Sports Partners, the Hawks immediately dove into a week full of new experiences and learning abroad when they arrived, proudly acting out the motto of Huntingdon College "Enter to grow in wisdom, go forth and apply wisdom in service."

Throughout the entirety of the trip, the team visited culturally significant locations within Spain, including Toledo(home of the Santa Iglesia Catedral Primada de Toledo, one of the largest Cathedrals in the nation), Gran Via, Calle Princesa, the Spanish Royal Palace, Downtown Madrid, Bernabeu Stadium( home of the Real Madrid Football Club),and Segovia. 

 In addition to touring some of the prominent locations in Spain, the Hawks took on two service projects within the local community, beginning with an adaptive sports camp at Centro María Corredentora, a school for special needs students. The team played a multitude of different games with the students, including basketball, soccer, or just generally playing on the playground. After that first session, the students divided into smaller groups with the Hawks, where they participated in various other small-group activities. The team also assisted with lunch for the day and did some arts and crafts with the students to wrap up their service at the school.

 The Hawks followed up on the adaptive sports camp by serving at a local basketball camp, CB Las Rozas. The team divided amongst themselves at different skill stations and assisted with the instruction and facilitation of different drills, all the while motivating the campers and ensuring that everyone was having a good time while playing. 

 Scattered throughout the trip, the team was able to participate in various activities designed to enhance team chemistry among the squad. The first activity was a zipline/rope course, which the team navigated through as a unit. This was followed by a lesson in Padel, a racquetball-style game with Spanish origin. Following the lesson, the team faced off against each other in a tournament with two-person teams.

 Beginning on the second day of the trip and going until their departure, the Hawks had the opportunity to face off against multiple Spanish Club teams, including the likes of Zentro Basket, CB Las Rozas, and UB Villalba, giving the team an opportunity to build chemistry on the court before their 2024 season begins.

When asked about the experience, coach Zac Richards shared that:

  "Our trip to Madrid, Spain was a truly amazing experience. Coach Dennis Chamberlain and Global Sports Partners put together an incredible trip for us, and our guys made the most of each moment. From the ropes course and zip lining, to serving at a local basketball camp as well as a school for children with special needs, to learning how to play Padel and having a team tournament, to tours of Toledo and Segovia, and of course the games we played while there, memories were made to last a lifetime. It was special for me to see our guys thrive in different environments and come together more than ever. They represented themselves, our program, and our college with excellence. Our brotherhood certainly grew much stronger during our time in Spain, and I cannot wait to get this season started with this group and our incoming guys."

In a similar light, assistant coach Justin Allison stated that:

 "This trip was a once in a lifetime experience. You can tell our relationships grew immensely by sharing this opportunity. Coach Dennis Chamberlain and Global Sports Partners did an outstanding job planning our week. It was a first class experience all-around. Our guys really bought into being in the moment, and this trip will be something we will look back on and be thankful that we made it happen."

Huntingdon Athletics is incredibly proud of this program and their representation abroad. Stay tuned for news to come of their 2024-2025 season.