{"id":4659,"date":"2020-11-16T12:20:51","date_gmt":"2020-11-16T18:20:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=4659"},"modified":"2020-11-17T10:03:52","modified_gmt":"2020-11-17T16:03:52","slug":"cronkite-news-native-basketball-covid19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2020\/11\/16\/cronkite-news-native-basketball-covid19\/","title":{"rendered":"Cronkite News: Native basketball tournament readies post-COVID return"},"content":{"rendered":"\"Native\r\n
The Native American Basketball Invitational provides not only games but opportunities for the Native American community. Photo courtesy of Jessica Spencer-Nakai<\/figcaption>\r\n
Native American Basketball Invitational returns in 2021 after \u2018devastating\u2019 decision to cancel<\/div>\r\n
Monday, November 16, 2020<\/div>\r\n
By Averi Roberts<\/div>\r\n
Cronkite News<\/DIV>\r\n
cronkitenews.azpbs.org<\/A><\/DIV>\r\n

<\/P>\r\nPHOENIX \u2013 After a one-year absence because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic<\/a>, the Native American Basketball Invitational will return in July, showcasing indigenous basketball players from across the U.S., Canada and New Zealand at venues around the Valley.

<\/p>\r\nThe championship games will take place at the newly renovated downtown arena of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury.

<\/p>\r\n\r\nThe decision to cancel the 2020 tournament crushed organizers.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cWe cried. We had tears when we had to cancel because we know how important the event is to the kids,\u201d \u201d said GinaMarie Scarpa, founder and president of the NABI Foundation, which formed in 2002 to organize the event. \u201cAnd then, of course, news stories started coming out about the cancellation and how devastating it was to our tribal youth across the country.\u201d

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<\/P>\r\nIt is another blow to a community that has been disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that Native Americans are \r\n5.3 times more likely<\/a>\r\nthan the white community to be hospitalized due to COVID-19.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\r\nThe NABI is considered the premier basketball tournament for indigenous youth, and was the first to become certified by the NCAA (2007), according to the organization\u2019s \r\nwebsite<\/a>.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nWhile basketball brings the athletes \u2013 boys and girls ages 14 to 19 \u2013 together for the tournament, the NABI Foundation\u2019s ultimate goal is to teach athletes the importance of education and provide opportunities through scholarships and the educational seminars. The program has provided more than $250,000 in scholarships.

<\/p>\r\nDuring the invitational, NABI hosts a college and career fair. College scouts are on hand, and a training camp is offered. High school teams that participate can bring one freshman player for a free training camp and an educational youth seminar with guest speakers, who are often tournament alumni.

<\/p>\r\n\u201cWe expanded our educational seminar to a full-blown educational youth summit,\u201d Scarpa said. \u201cWe had 36 presentations in 2019. We had great speakers. So they really come to learn and we use basketball as a tool.\u201d

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<\/p>\r\nWhile there is hope that the pandemic will be under control by July, the NABI is planning ahead in case it is still a threat. A Native American youth summit will be held online and organizers will strictly follow protocols recommended by the CDC and the state of Arizona.

<\/p>\r\n\u201cThe NABI Foundation will continue to monitor the situation and amend the program according to imposed safety guidelines closer to the program dates. A full schedule of events will be released mid-June,\u201d said Lynette Lewis, Director of Basketball Operations & Program Development, in the statement released by the NABI when the return of the event was announced.

<\/p>\r\nOne of the organization\u2019s board members will play an important role in preparations.

<\/p>\r\n\u201cWe have a wonderful kind of diverse board of directors, and one of our board of directors just happens to be one of the owners of a PPE (personal protective equipment) company,\u201d Scarpa said. \u201cSo, he\u2019s committed to providing everything we need for all the gyms, all the kids. I really think we will bring it back to normal.\u201d

<\/p>\r\n\u201cI think if we do allow a big sporting event, it might be limited seating \u2026 masks are going to be mandatory, there will be sanitizing stations. We are going to do everything possible to keep our kids safe.\u201d

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