FARMVILLE, Va. — The Lancers are taking one of the most successful mid-major basketball programs to the skies on an international tour under the Italian sun, where they'll play the first tune-up exhibition games of their season and, more importantly, bond as a team during a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Longwood's men's basketball team, under second-year head coach Ronnie Thomas, will be on the fully donor-funded international trip through Aug. 3. In addition to hitting the hardcourt for three games against Italian teams in Florence, Milan and Rome, together they'll experience some of the cultural and historic sites that make Italy special.
"I'd like to thank the donors who made this trip possible," said Thomas. "Their investment in our team and the bonds that we are trying to build between the players and coaches is invaluable. When the players are connected to each other off the court, especially when they have these irreplaceable experiences together, it connects them on the court as well."
International travel experiences are an effective way of building team chemistry and morale, and an opportunity for travel for a group of students who are not able to pursue traditional study-abroad experiences.
It also allows team members to share their culture with each other. Longwood's men's basketball has five international players this year, hailing from Estonia, Canada, Lithuania, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republika Srpska.
"It's impossible not to grow together when you travel abroad," Thomas said. "Our international players are used to this type of experience, and it's exciting to get them to share that with the rest of the team, coaching staff, and donors."
Over the course of the 11-day journey, the team will make stops in Rome, Milan and Florence.
Among the cultural and educational experiences, the team will see The Vatican, including the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica and Michelangelo's David. The Lancers will also go the Coliseum, the Pantheon and the Roman Forum while in Rome.
In Florence, the team will visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
"These really are bucket-list experiences," Thomas said. "We are enormously thankful to those men's basketball supporters who made this happen, and who continue to invest resources into our program so that we can represent Longwood in the best possible way."
In addition, Longwood will play three games while abroad, giving the team yet another opportunity to bond together, this time on the court, while experiencing the flavor of international basketball.
It marks the third time the team will have gone abroad. The last time Longwood did so was prior to the 2023-24 season, with a 10-day trip to England and France binding the team together before a thrilling run to the Big South championship capped the season the following spring.
To keep up with the team during the trip, or throughout the rest of the summer, follow the team on X at @LongwoodMBB or on Instagram @longwoodmbb.
