Banning, Crenshaw to Compete in Africa : Basketball: Pilots’ boys team and Cougars’ girls squad will represent the U.S. in the Africa Challenge Tour. The monthlong tournament begins in Paris.

The Banning boys’ basketball team reached new heights when it won a second consecutive City Section 3-A Division title. But the Pilots didn’t realize their victory would carry them halfway around the world. The Pilots, along with two-time City 4-A girls’ champion Crenshaw, have been chosen to represent the United States in the Africa Challenge Tour. They depart July 27 on a monthlong trip that begins in Paris and continues through four countries in Western Africa.

“We’re very excited about the trip and all the opportunities it will provide us,” Banning Coach Marc Paez said. “We never imagined getting a chance to visit Africa.”

Banning and Crenshaw will participate in boys’ and girls’ tournaments in Benin, Togo, the Central African Republic and Gabon. Paez will be responsible for the seven Pilot boys making the trip and Crenshaw co-coach Greg Cobbs will escort the seven Cougar girls.

Making the trip for the Pilots are senior forward Kevin Burton, junior guard LaDonte King, junior guard Brian Jones, senior forwards Harold McCrimmon, Kito Patterson and Akbar Rahman, and junior center Rick Sanchez.

“Essentially, I will be a single parent for seven teen-agers,” Paez said. “It will be a lot work, but it will be worth it.”

Representing the Cougars will be Naila Mosely, All-City Section senior guard Kristi Lattin, junior point guard Devin King, senior forward Bridget Jemison, senior guard Sommer Tillet, junior forward Quiana Knox and sophomore forward Kisha Shephard.

“It was really disbelief,” Jones said. “I thought they were joking when they told me I was going. When I heard it was for real, I had no words because I didn’t believe we were going.”

None of the seven girls and only one of the boys making the trip have ever traveled outside the United States. Seven players have never flown.

“I’ve been on a small private plane, but I’ve never been on a commercial jet,” said 16-year-old Sanchez. “I’m little worried, but I can deal with it.”

But even McCrimmon, the team’s most experienced traveler, said he was apprehensive.

“Sure, I’m a little bit scared,” McCrimmon said. “It’s a very long trip.”

The African tour is sponsored by the French National Basketball Federation, which each year selects European teams to compete and help promote basketball in Africa.

City Commissioner Barbara Fiege said she was told by a tournament official that this is the first time teams from the United States have been asked to participate.

“The invitation was presented to the school district as an all-expense-paid trip for two teams of seven players each and a coach to travel to Africa,” she said. “The Senior High Division selected Banning and Crenshaw based on their double victories in City championship games. It was up to the individual schools to decide whether they sent their boys’ or girls’ teams.”

Fiege said the details of the trip have been sketchy so far because the information she has received has been written in French.

“I have had to have everything translated into English because my French isn’t very good.”

Although the trip is a month away, some Pilots have already thought about packing.

“I’m going to pack lots of shorts and cool clothes,” Jones said. “A couple pairs of sandals and tank tops. It’s going to be hot.”

For most players’ parents, this will be the first time their children have been away from home for more than a few days.

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity,” said Jones’ father, Carl. “I’m not too thrilled with him going so far away. I trust Coach Paez, though, and I think he will take good care of him.”