USA Garden State Basketball

WE’RE GOING BACK AGAIN!

USA Garden State Basketball is officially heading back to Europe this August—and we’re building the next team to represent New Jersey on the international stage.

From Greece to Albania to Croatia, this isn’t just a trip…
It’s competition, culture, and growth that changes players for life.

Last year’s group came back different—more confident, more experienced—and it showed all season long at the college level.

Now it’s time to do it again.

But experiences like this don’t happen alone.

💙 With your support, we can give the next group of student-athletes the same opportunity to:
• Compete against international talent
• Experience new cultures
• Grow as leaders on and off the court

Every donation helps open doors.

👉 Support the mission. Help us build the next team.
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used the USA Garden State Basketball International Tour cruise through the Mediterranean playing 6 games in 10 days to prepare for the season.

The USA Garden State Basketball International Tour isn’t just about travel — it’s about growth.

Our alums embraced the experience, grew their game overseas, and returned sharper, more confident, and ready for the next level.

Tap the Follow button. These ballers aren’t done yet!!

OUR ALUMS WENT OFF THIS WEEK! 🔥

Big shout-out to Nick Boyd , Gus Yalden , and Jacob Morales — all putting in elite performances in the same week and showing exactly why the USA Garden State Basketball International Tour continues to build future success stories.
⭐ Nick dropped a career-high 36 points, along with 7 rebounds and 7 assists with zero turnovers, a rare feat for such a high-usage player, to lead Wisconsin to a 104–83 win over Providence. Boyd is averaging 21.5 points per game on the season - the second-highest of any Big Ten player.

⭐ Gus earned Player-of-the-Week honors in the American East Conference after averaging 18.5 PPG and 4.3 RPG across 4 games — including a career-high 27-point game vs. Princeton.

⭐ Jacob was named NJAC Player of the Week for dropping 30 points, drilling 6-of-9 threes, grabbing 4 boards, dishing 3 assists and coming up with 4 steals in Montclair State’s big win.

These three-peat showings aren’t luck — they’re the result of hard work, talent… and the foundation laid by the USA Garden State Basketball International Tour. 💪

Follow us to stay in touch on next year’s Tour. 🏀🌍

Day 10 Barcelona. Our final day of the USA Garden State Basketball European Tour was one to remember. Early Wed morning, the team disembarked from the Seabourn ship at the Port of Barcelona, closing out an unforgettable 10-day cruise through the Mediterranean.

Before tipping off for our last game, the players, family, and friends spread out across the city to soak in Barcelona. Some strolled Las Ramblas and the famous Mercado de Boqueria, others marveled at Gaudí’s masterpiece—the Sagrada Familia—or hit popular tourist spots and the beach for some relaxation.

The cruise staff made sure to share how impressed they were with our guys—commending their behavior, the respect they showed, and the friendships they built with guests along the way.

As the sun set, our focus shifted back to basketball. The team entered its final matchup of the 2025 European Tour undefeated, taking on Club Bàsquet Salt in Girona at 8 PM.

From Rome to Barcelona, Tunisia to France, Malta to Spain—this journey has been more than basketball. It’s been about cultural exposure, building bonds, and creating memories that will last a lifetime. We head home with our record intact and our hearts full. ❤️🏀🌍

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The USA Garden State Basketball Tour is coming to an end. All that is left is the flight home.

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Stay tuned for recap and FOLLOW US to keep up-to-date on the players and our next trip.

Day 9: Rosas, Spain 🇪🇸☀️
No game today, which meant a perfect chance for the squad to recharge and explore the beautiful Catalan region. Some guys hopped on scooters to see the sights, others kicked back on the beaches of Rosas, and a few made the climb up to Castillo d’Empuries and Empuriabrava to take in the views and history. 🛵🏖️🏰

These moments off the court are just as valuable as the battles on them. In less than 10 days together, this group—made up of players from different colleges and backgrounds—has grown into a real family. The bond is obvious: shared laughs, new experiences, and a deeper understanding of each other as teammates and as men.

The international tour has been about more than just wins. It’s about growth—learning how to adapt, how to support one another, and how to take in the world beyond the hardwood. 🌍💪

Every stop is another memory, every day a step forward. The journey continues, and the lessons—on and off the court—will last long after the final buzzer.

If it is Monday, it must be France.

After a 45-minute bus ride from the port of Marseille to Toulon, Team USA Garden State played its fifth game against HTV.

The team walked away with another win, 109 to 68, on its 2025 European Tour.

After the game, the team and staff visited the port and Rue d’Alger, both in Toulon. They explored the small pedestrian-only streets, buying clothing, leather goods and souvenirs to bring back to the states.

Levi Holton, a senior at Rutgers-Newark, said he tried different foods for the first time and some things he liked what he tried and other times not so much.

“Overall I am loving the experience,” he said. “This is something I will remember for the rest of my life. “

He said he spoke to his family earlier, and they told him they were proud of him for getting this opportunity to observe different cultures.

Holton said after this experience he plans to pursue playing basketball somewhere in Europe.

Follow USA_GSBasketball to take the ride with us- only 2 more ports and one game to go! Don’t miss the action!!

USA Garden State Basketball keeps rolling in Europe!

Behind a strong showing from Nick Boyd (22 pts) and Bryce Dortch (19 pts, 10 rebs), the team cruised past Hyères Toulon Var, 109–68, to move to 5-0 on the 10-day European Tour.

But this trip is about more than wins. After the game, the squad shared lunch together and explored the historic Port of Toulon, taking in the beauty, culture, and flavor of France’s Provence region. From the seaside markets to the naval harbor, players got a glimpse of daily life far beyond the basketball court.

“It’s amazing to see how much we’ve grown since we’ve been together,” Boyd said. “This tour has given us the chance to compete, but also to experience the world.”

For Dortch, the confidence gained both on and off the floor is a key part of the journey. “I feel like I’m gaining confidence in what I can do and how I can help Rutgers this season,” he said.

Whether it’s connecting with fans in Tunisia, soaking up the history of Sicily, or now walking the streets of Toulon, the international experience is shaping these players as athletes and as people. Every stop is a reminder of how the game of basketball opens doors to the world. 🌍

Next stop: Barcelona, Spain 🇪🇸 for the final matchup of the tour.

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You never know who you will bump into aboard the Ovation. Today is a day of rest for the USA Garden State basketball team

The ship is traveling on the Sea of Sardinia heading toward its next destination of Marseille, France. The team will play its next game in nearby Toulon.

If you are a sports fan, you could have bumped aboard this ship into Baseball Hall of Famer George Brett or Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Singletary.

Brett won a World Series with the Kansas City Royals and Singletary won a Super Bowl with the Chicago Bears.