by PHOENIX -The Native American Basketball Invitational (NABI) will be officially launching their own brand of sports apparel in 2020. Over the last few years the brand has become a source of funding for the 501(c)(3) non-profit with an annual increase of 25%. NABI Nation® has only been available during the week of the basketball invitational and will change in 2020 when the brand is made available all year through the Foundation’s official website immediately upon the conclusion of the 2020 tournament.
In addition, all 2020 basketball teams will be sporting new NABI Nation® basketball uniforms. The uniforms, designed by Ruben Alvarez/RufNek™, will feature designs celebrating our Native American youth, communities and culture. The NABI Nation® uniforms will also feature the tribal seals/logos of the 2020 event sponsors. “Our sponsors and their generous funding are the reason the NABI Foundation has been able to continue providing quality educational and sports programs to our youth. Being able to proudly display them on our new uniform is our small way of saying ‘thank you’ for their support” says GinaMarie Scarpa President & CEO.
To help celebrate the launch of the new NABI Nation® uniforms and Native American Heritage month (November), the NABI Foundation donated custom made NABI Nation® uniforms to St. Michaels Indian School. The school’s basketball programs continue to be highly competitive against much bigger schools and will again bring some exciting basketball to this upcoming season. “Teachings of our Native American tradition is a practice that we emphasize here at St. Michaels Indian School. The NABI Nation® uniforms have an influence of Native American heritage and traditional pattern. The NABI Foundation has done a great job in capturing and expressing who we are and what we stand for” states St. Michaels Athletic Director & Girls Basketball Head Coach, Carl Adams. The St. Michaels team will debut their new NABI Nation® uniforms at their November 30th game against Newcomb High School, in Newcomb, NM.
NABI week officially tips-off on Sunday, June 21stth in Phoenix, AZ It will include the annual NABI Educational Youth Summit, NABI College & Career Fair, Parade of Teams, Jr. NABI Camp and the 18th Annual Native American Basketball Invitational (NABI) which will again feature 128 teams (youth ages 14-19), comprised of athletes representing tribes from North America, Canada and New Zealand who will compete in over 300 basketball games from June 22-26. NABI week will conclude with the Championship games, Saturday June 27th . NABI opening ceremonies, along with all NABI games are open to the public.
The NABI basketball invitational continues to be the largest national premier basketball tournament showcasing Native American and indigenous youth, and the first to become certified by the NCAA (2007). Registration opens Jan 6, 2020. For more information about the NABI Foundation, please visit www.NABIFoundation.org.
Other NABI sponsors include: Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, Talking Stick Resort Arena, Arizona Diamondbacks, RufNek™ & Universal Insurance Programs.
