News

Robins set to host Air Force men's basketball team tryouts

  • Published
  • By Wayne Crenshaw
  • 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Robins will have strong ties with the Air Force men's basketball team in the upcoming Armed Forces tournament, starting with the fact that tryouts and practice will be held here.

Airmen from around the globe will come to Robins beginning April 17 to try to make the team. The coach, assistant coach and project officer are all part of Team Robins, and five of the 30 players expected to tryout are stationed here.

"It's the first time the whole staff has come from one base," said head coach John Bailey, who will coach the team for the fifth consecutive year.

The Air Force is trying to get an unprecedented fourth consecutive Armed Forces tournament win. Approximately 80 percent of the players trying out are former NCAA players, he said. The practices, which will be held at the Fitness Center's main gym, will be open to anyone who wants to watch. Bailey said he welcomes spectators, and there will be scrimmages. Players from Fort Valley State University are coming to provide some competition.

"You will get a chance to see NCAA-quality basketball here locally," he said. "That in itself is a treat."

It's the first time since 1995 that the camp is being held at Robins.

On April 27 at 7 p.m. the Army squad, which is having its camp at Fort Benning, is coming to Robins to play an exhibition game. On April 30 the Air Force team will go to Fort Benning to play the Army.

After two weeks the squad will be cut to 12, and then after a week of practice they will travel to Millington, Tenn., for the Armed Forces tournament to be held from May 11-18. The team will compete against teams from the Army, Navy and Marines.

Bailey, a former player for the University of Wisconsin, served in the Air Force for 10 years and for most of those years he played on the Air Force basketball team. He is a now a civilian logistics manager for the C-17 Product Directorate at Robins.

Also hailing from Robins are assistant coach Jeff McClain and project officer Eddie Goad. McClain is a financial management specialist in the 78th Comptroller & Contracting Squadron, and Goad is assistant director of the Fitness Center.

Airmen from Robins trying out for the team are Staff Sgt. Miquel Stewart of the 78th Security Forces Squadron, 1st Lt. Darnell Stephens of the 78th CCS, Senior Airman Khenz Jacinthe of the 78th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Capt. Tysen Pina of the 116th Air Control Wing, and Staff Sgt. Juan Vasquez of the 116th ACW.

Pina played for the Air Force Academy team from 2001 to 2004. He is one of four former Falcons trying out for the team.

While civilians can serve as coaches, only active-duty personnel can play on the team. Airmen submit a form requesting a chance to try out for the team, and coaches evaluate the submissions before deciding which players to invite to the camp.

Sergeant Stewart, who played college ball at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, is making his first attempt to be on the team. He had wanted to tryout before but couldn't due to other commitments. Having the camp at Robins makes it convenient, he said.

"If I get cut I'm only five minutes from my house," he said.