The Eurobasket Tours Core Staff

Mark Jensen, Whittier College Head Coach

The journey of our current setup started with a simple idea: combine a love for basketball with the adventure of travel. Our core staff of both avid basketball players and coaches, saw an opportunity to create unique experiences for like-minded enthusiasts. They wanted to offer more than just a vacation. They aimed to provide a journey where people could immerse themselves in the culture of basketball across the world.

Eleven years ago, Coach Mark Jensen planned the first tour. His goal was to take a group of graduating seniors from his Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) to play against professional teams while exploring the rich history of countries around the globe. This planning phase was crucial because it ensured that every tour would offer something special and memorable for his players.

The first trip went to Italy where his group of SCIAC Conference players got to explore the vast history Rome, eat all the pasta they could, and of course play games against local Italian professional basketball teams. The trip was such a big success that it continues even today as a tradition in the SCIAC Conference. 

Coach Jensen has led 11 of these trips through 16 different countries (he has visited 25 countries in total making him a very seasoned traveler!). The team always consists of 10 players from his conference and whatever family and friends that want to tag along. 

The experience is built for everyone to enjoy travel, support their basketball star, and celebrate the conclusion of the players collegiate educational and athletic career.  

Dustin Simcox, Director of Eurobasket

Dustin, a local of Akron, OH and a former basketball player at Hawaii Pacific University that was once highly recruited by Coach Jensen to come to Whittier College. Even though Dustin and Coach Jensen were unable to pair up in the college game, they have found their partnership in these trips. 

Dustin specializes in orchestrating the basketball side of the trip scheduling the games through his vast network working for Eurobasket. Although the goal of the trip is not geared around signing a professional contract, he does spread the word on which players are entering the country that could be potential prospects.

There have been 200+ players from these trips that have landed an opportunity to play professionally. The cultural activities and sightseeing that is planned comes through the recommendations of local coaches, teams, and personnel that he works with.

Dustin has been the trip leader through countries such as Portugal, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Turkey, and Armenia. In addition to the trips he has led, he has also visited 55 different countries giving him the utmost experience in international travel. 

Email: [email protected]

Kawika Lyons, Director of Eurobasket Tour Communication and Logistics

Kawika (kah-vee-kah), a local of Honolulu, Hawaii is also a former basketball player at Hawaii Pacific University where he and Dustin first met. Kawika has been a part of the Eurobasket Tour team since 2019 as the main communicator between players and coaches on tour.

Any questions that need answers regarding trip logistics such as dates, flights, payments, or any other need goes through Kawika. 

He has been the trip leader on several trips through Portugal, Spain, Armenia, and China. A experienced traveler himself, has accumulated 18 different countries spanning 4 different continents. 

Email: [email protected]